Police still seek two in fallen officer investigation

HILO — Police want to question a man and woman they think might have assisted cop killer Justin Waiki when he was on the run.

Sought are 32-year old Robert “Robbie” Brigoli of Waimea, who police say is known to frequent Puna, and 53-year-old Roseanne M. Leong of Puna.

Waiki shot Puna Patrol Officer Bronson Kaliloa to death July 17 on the side of Highway 11 in Mountain View.

The 33-year-old Waiki was himself killed in a shootout with police July 20 at South Point that injured Sgt. Bryan Tina, who is recovering from his wounds.

Seven alleged co-conspirators have been indicted. One, Taumi Amber Carr, pleaded not guilty Tuesday in Hilo Circuit Court to criminal conspiracy and hindering prosecution.

Judge Henry Nakamoto ordered Carr to appear for trial at 9 a.m. Jan. 15, 2019, before Kona Circuit Judge Robert Kim.

Nakamoto denied Carr’s request for supervised release or a bail reduction without prejudice, which means Carr can ask again at a later date.

Carr is in custody at Hawaii Community Correctional Center in lieu of $500,000 bail.

All but one of the others have been arrested.

One, 24-year-old Mokihana Kaupena Veincent of Waimea, aka Mokihana Luis, was taken into custody in Waimea Tuesday morning and is pending arraignment while courthouses are closed due to Hurricane Lane. She’s charged with two counts of first-degree hindering prosecution and prohibited possession of a firearm.

Another, 33-year-old Kyle Kawika Brende, was taken into custody by local and federal officers in Washington state, where he had fled several weeks ago, according to police.

Brende is also charged with criminal conspiracy and hindering prosecution. He’s waived extradition and will be brought back to the Big Island to face prosecution.

Bail for both Veincent and Brende is set at $500,000.

Three other alleged accomplices — 35-year-old Jorge Pagan-Torres, 29-year-old Krystle Ferreira, and 30-year-old Malia Lajala — have been in custody since the July 20 South Point shootout.

Ferreira, Pagan-Torres, and Lajala were charged with being accomplices to attempted first-degree murder and illegally carrying a firearm, conspiracy to commit first-degree hindering prosecution, and first-degree hindering prosecution. Lajala was also charged with third-degree promotion of a dangerous drug.

Bail for the trio was set at $1 million each.

The seventh person, Jamie Jason, who sustained a gunshot wound that broke her femur during the South Point incident, remains hospitalized and has not been taken into custody. She faces charges of first-degree attempted murder, being an accomplice to illegally carrying a revolver, and conspiracy to illegally possess a firearm.

Her bail is set at $1 million.

Police are still requesting that anyone who had contact with Justin Waiki between the shooting of Kalikoa and Waiki’s death or knows someone who had contact with him, to call the police non-emergency line at 935-3311 or Crime Stoppers at 961-8300.

Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.

Email Michael Brestovansky at mbrestovansky@hawaiitribune-herald.com.