LIHU‘E — A man with three separate criminal court cases scheduled for jury trials this year was in police custody after his arrest on four warrants when cell block police service officers heard him talking to someone on the telephone
LIHU‘E — A man with three separate criminal court cases scheduled for jury trials this year was in police custody after his arrest on four warrants when cell block police service officers heard him talking to someone on the telephone about the need to move his vehicle to a more secure location.
Suspicious, they called a Kaua‘i Police Department officer when the man, Isaac Ikaika Josiah, 25, became belligerent, said Alejandre Quibilan, acting assistant chief and Patrol Services Bureau commander.
Officers Jason Matsuoka and David Banquel responded and gathered enough information to locate Josiah’s vehicle not far from KPD headquarters.
Through the window they saw a green-blue smoking pipe, then took photographs of the vehicle and had it towed to and secured at KPD headquarters, Quibilan said.
The following day, armed with a search warrant, they entered the vehicle and recovered drug paraphernalia, a 9 mm semiautomatic pistol, ammunition for the pistol, knives, a slim jim and .38-caliber ammunition, Quibilan said.
The action of Matsuoka, the March Police Officer of the Month, took weapons and drugs off the streets, said Quibilan.
“Outstanding exemplary service,” said KPD Chief Darryl Perry.
Matsuoka received his honors at Friday’s county Police Commission meeting.
Josiah, who made one of February’s Most Wanted lists, was arrested for three counts of criminal contempt of court and a single count of failure to appear in court when he became belligerent at the cell block, then on Feb. 17 was arrested for third-degree promotion of a dangerous drug, unlawful use of or possession with intent to use drug paraphernalia, ownership or possession of a prohibited weapon, and keeping a pistol and ammunition in improper places to keep such items.
On the drug and weapons charges Matsuoka arrested him for, Josiah has pleaded not guilty and requested a jury trial, with the trial set for May 17.
He has two jury trials set for April 12, though plea-bargaining negotiations are ongoing in at least one of the cases, according to state court records.
In a 2007 case he is charged with first-degree and second-degree terroristic threatening, second-degree criminal trespassing, having a loaded firearm other than a pistol or revolver in an illegal place to keep it, and ownership or possession of automatic firearms.
In a 2008 case he is charged with reckless driving, driving a motor vehicle while under the influence of the intoxicant (drugs), two counts of third-degree promotion of a dangerous drug, third-degree promotion of a detrimental drug, third-degree promotion of a harmful drug, fourth-degree promotion of a harmful drug, and unlawful use of or possession with intent to use drug paraphernalia.
The Police Commission also welcomed a new member, Kilauea Realtor James “Jim” O’Connor, who replaces Leon Gonsalves Sr.
Last month, Ernest “Ernie” Kanekoa Jr. took his seat as a new commissioner, replacing Charles Fulks Jr.
