LIHUE — Thirty-nine fugitives on Kauai were arrested as a result of a four-day, multi-agency operation that focused on finding people charged with violent crimes. The operation included the Kauai Police Department and the Hawaii Fugitive Task Force. Officers recovered
LIHUE — Thirty-nine fugitives on Kauai were arrested as a result of a four-day, multi-agency operation that focused on finding people charged with violent crimes.
The operation included the Kauai Police Department and the Hawaii Fugitive Task Force. Officers recovered firearms, narcotics and cash.
”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 people arrested.
Vidinha, 40, was arrested 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, $3,800 in cash, and 30 grams of crystal methamphetamine, said Sarah Blane, county spokeswoman.
Vidinha is being held at Kauai Community Correctional Center on the warrants. He is expected to face additional charges.
The operation, which started Nov. 14, also yielded the execution of 64 outstanding state arrest warrants and generated a total bail amount of nearly $700,000, according to a release from the US Marshals Hawaii Task Force.
It focused on finding fugitives wanted on homicide, assault, robbery, firearms and explosives, sex offenses, narcotics, and gang and organized crime affiliations, the release said.
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.
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.
The names of those arrested weren’t readily available.
