KAILUA-KONA — One of three people taken into custody during a narcotics-related arrest at a Kalaoa residence Monday afternoon appeared in District Court Tuesday for an initial appearance on various drug charges.
The arrests stem from the Area II Special Enforcement Unit’s month-long narcotics-related and community nuisance-type investigation, according to a press release from the Hawaii Police Department.
SEU was first made aware of issues at the Kalaoa residence because of numerous community complaints of suspected narcotic use and narcotics-related activities occurring at the home.
Warrants executed on the house occurred Monday afternoon. According to the release, at 2:15 p.m., SEU, assisted by the Area II Vice Section, executed a narcotics search warrant at the residence on the 73-4500 block of Iki Place.
During the search, the release states, officers recovered about 3.9 grams of a black tar-like substance, suspected to be heroin; syringes containing a brownish-colored liquid, also suspected heroin; 0.4 grams of a crystalline substance, suspected crystal methamphetamine and numerous drug paraphernalia items associated with heroin and methamphetamine use.
About $870 in cash was also seized.
Iki Place residents Dylan Brehaut, 28, and Ashley Safa, 30, were taken into custody as well as 32-year-old Nicholas Catlett, of Kailua-Kona.
Catlett and Brehaut were initially taken to the Kealakehe Police Station. After talking with the prosecutor’s office, the release indicates, Brehaut and Catlett were released pending further investigation.
However, Brehaut remained in custody for an outstanding bench warrant with bail set at $10,000.
Safa was charged with three counts of third-degree promotion of dangerous drugs and drug paraphernalia. Her bail was set at $30,250.
A neighbor on Iki Place, who wished not to be identified, said she didn’t see anything the day the warrants were served. However, she did hear police yell, “get down.”
The neighbor recalled the police going to that home at least three times to make an arrest.
Safa and Brehaut were previously arrested in a Vice bust in July at a home on Loloa Drive. Brehaut pleaded guilty to third-degree promotion of a dangerous drug. He was granted a deferred accepted of plea for four years.
Safa pleaded to third-degree promotion of a dangerous drug. She was sentenced to four years probation.
