LIHUE — Almost 40 fugitives on Kauai were arrested last week as a result of a four-day, multi-agency operation that focused on finding people charged with violent crimes. “I commend our Vice team for coordinating this multi-agency effort which resulted
LIHUE — Almost 40 fugitives on Kauai were arrested last week as a result of a four-day, multi-agency operation that focused on finding people charged with violent crimes.
“I commend our Vice team for coordinating this multi-agency effort which resulted in the arrest of 39 fugitives on our island. The Kauai Police Department extends our gratitude to the many partnering agencies of the Hawaii Fugitive Task Force which allows us to accomplish a lot in a short period of time,” said Darryl Perry, KPD chief. “With the help of the Task Force, we are holding criminals accountable, seizing drugs and firearms, and creating a safer community.”
Jon-Anthony Paul Vidinha, of Kapaa, was one of the 39 people arrested.
Vidinha, 40, was arrested on Nov. 14 on a $100,000 cash only warrant. His backpack was seized during the arrest, and a search warrant led to the recovery of two handguns, approximately $3,800 cash, and 30 grams of crystal methamphetamine, according to Sarah Blane, county spokeswoman.
Vidinha is currently being held at Kauai Community Correctional Center on the warrants. He is expected to face additional charges.
The operation, which started on Nov. 14, also yielded the execution of 64 outstanding state arrest warrants and generated a total bail amount of approximately $698,425, according to a release from the US Marshals Hawaii Task Force, according to a release from the The U.S. Marshals Hawaii Task Force
The U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement-Enforcement and Removal Operations and Federal Bureau of Investigation, in conjunction with the Hawaii High-Intensity Drug Trafficking Area, also participated in the search, which focused on finding fugitives wanted on homicide, assault, robbery, firearms and explosives, sex offenses, narcotics, and gang and organized crime affiliations, the release said.
Over the four-day period, officers recovered multiple firearms, various amounts of narcotics, and cash suspected of being associated with criminal activity. The firearms seized were in the possession of a previously convicted felon who is prohibited by law from owning or possessing firearms.
All seized items were turned over to KPD officers for further investigation and prosecution of new charges, the release said.
“The collaboration between the Kauai Police Department along with all of our county, state, and federal law enforcement partners and prosecutor offices is the cornerstone of the Hawaii Fugitive Task Force,” said Gervin Miyamoto, US Marshals Service for the District of Hawaii.
