LIHU’E — Fifth Circuit Court Judge Michael Soong denied an oral motion to reduce bail for a Kaua’i man who allegedly pointed a firearm at a police officer in late November at a Tuesday morning preliminary hearing.
Preston Duque, 38, a Kaua’i man with no known permanent address, was arrested in Hanama‘ulu on Nov. 23.
According to a preliminary report, Duque had used a firearm to shoot a round into the air around 5 p.m. that evening. When Kaua‘i Police Department officers responded to a reckless endangerment call, Duque allegedly pointed the firearm at them. Officers took cover while calling for backup, according to a KPD press release.
Duque remains in custody on one count of reckless endangerment in the second degree, one count of terroristic threatening, and two counts of prohibited ownership of a firearm.
Duque has criminal charges dating back to 2000, according to court records.
Duque’s most recent violations from the previous two years were traffic-related infractions.
In 2018, the court accepted Duque’s no contest plea to a petty misdemeanor charge of operating a motor vehicle without a driver’s license.
In October of 2019, Duque was stopped for driving on a suspended license after failing to pay the necessary fees or get the proper safety inspections for his car. In October 2020, Duque was fined $172 for excessive speeding.
Duque’s bail remains at $100,000, and his next hearing will be at 8 a.m. on Dec. 15.
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Jason Blasco, reporter, can be reached at 245-0437 or jblasco@thegardenisland.com.
So sad how that place is now. As a kid we used to swim there. Now its the feeding grounds for all the chronics. Kauai is coming like oahu.