LIHU‘E — Those wanted for alleged crimes should beware. Kaua‘i Police Department officers in uniforms and squad cars aren’t the only ones they should be worried about.
For the second month in a row, an off-duty KPD officer assisted with the arrest of wanted persons.
Officer Clyde Caires “played a major role” in apprehending three of four people suspected of committing a rash of property crimes, said KPD Lt. Sherwin Kaleo Perez, Lihu‘e district commander in the Patrol Services Bureau.
KPD Chief Darryl Perry concurred, saying Caires’ work was vital in the arrest of three of the island’s top four burglary suspects.
Taking those three people off the streets translated to an immediate drop in burglary, theft and related cases, said Alejandre Quibilan, KPD acting assistant chief.
Those arrested included Li‘i Kaimana Cook, Brad Kubisch and Tyson Yadao, the latter also allegedly assaulting Caries and fellow officers Ken Cummings and Clyde Nero when they attempted to arrest him.
Cook on Monday pleaded guilty in state court in one other burglary case, and no contest to three others in a plea agreement (see the related story).
The “rash of property crimes,” white-collar crimes, forgery and stolen vehicles had island residents “up in arms” late last year, said Perez.
“Solid leads and good investigations” by Caires and others led to the arrests, Perez said.
In the first arrest, on New Year’s Day, Caires was off duty in his personal vehicle when he saw a suspect in a retail-store parking lot, Perez said.
Caires called KPD dispatch and the on-duty commander, kept an eye on the suspect, and was on the telephone with responding officers when they arrived, directing them to the suspect’s vehicle, said Perez.
The suspect “had no chance to flee,” and was arrested without incident, Perez said.
In the second case, Caires was acting officer in charge when he received a tip about a suspect at a certain location. Officers converged but the man got away, Perez said.
Caires talked to witnesses, found out the suspect was to be picked up by another person nearby, and after that pickup police conducted a traffic stop and surrounded the vehicle.
“Again, this time the suspect had no time to run,” and the arrest happened due to Caires’ leadership, interview of witnesses and formulation of a solid plan, said Perez.
On Jan. 20, Caires, Cummings and Nero teamed up to arrest Yadao, Perez said.
In another case also in January, Caires and Nero responded to a call from a woman saying a man was in her apartment, and pointed something at her she thought was a gun, before the man fled, Perez said.
After canvassing the area, the officers spotted a man walking in the area and made an arrest.
“He’s done a great job,” Perez said of Caires, who has been with KPD for nine years and has frequently served as officer in charge in the absence of his sergeant or acting sergeant.
• Paul C. Curtis, staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 224) or pcurtis@kauaipubco.com.
