Kaua‘i police have released the names of those arrested in stepped-up efforts to serve felony warrants. As part of a warrant serving task force, federal agents, sheriff’s deputies, Kaua‘i police, Hawai‘i County police and the prosecutor’s office collaborated in the
Kaua‘i police have released the names of those arrested in stepped-up efforts to serve felony warrants.
As part of a warrant serving task force, federal agents, sheriff’s deputies, Kaua‘i police, Hawai‘i County police and the prosecutor’s office collaborated in the four-day crackdown, headed by U.S. Marshals.
Eight Kaua‘i Police Officers have since been deputized by the U.S. Marshals as part of the Hawai‘i Fugitive Task Force.
The crime sweep — which netted 29 fugitives — yielded mostly drug-related arrests.
The sweep lasted from sunrise Tuesday to sunset Friday and resulted in 42 outstanding warrants being cleared or executed.
Five additional drug charges were also filed as a result of the crackdown.
In addition to drug related crimes, arrests were made in connection with assault, sexual assault and family abuse charges.
Lt. Michael Contrades said of the 29 arrested, some had turned themselves in upon hearing that law enforcement was looking for them.
Contrades said the mission of the task force is to assist state and local law enforcement agencies in the investigation and apprehension of fugitives, resulting in the reduction of active warrants, which can have an impact on the level of street crime committed by fugitives.
The collaborative sweep was the first of its kind on-island.
The primary focus was to arrest those who were charged with a drug offense or who have a criminal history involving drugs or drug-related violence and crimes of violence.
In July, roughly 700 warrants — which bear a six-month expiration date — had yet to be served on Kaua‘i.
Estelle Furuike, police records supervisor, said in August that the number of active warrants was 652, of which 98 were felony-related.
According to a report submitted to County Council Friday, roughly 40 felony warrants remained unserved. Warrants are generated on an almost constant basis, Deputy Chief Gordon Isoda has said.
