Just two days before the statute of limitations expired, a criminal investigation involving Acting Police Chief Clayton Arinaga was dropped. On Thursday, county officials announced there was not enough evidence to support an investigation into an incident that allegedly involved
Just two days before the statute of limitations expired, a criminal investigation involving Acting Police Chief Clayton Arinaga was dropped.
On Thursday, county officials announced there was not enough evidence to support an investigation into an incident that allegedly involved Arinaga on Sept. 15, 2000.
The investigation was launched in September 2005 to determine whether Arinaga hindered prosecution in a case where a suspect allegedly fired a weapon in Anahola.
“A criminal investigation into the allegations against Clay Arinaga for conduct that allegedly occurred on Sept. 15, 2000 concluded there was insufficient evidence to prove a felony offense beyond a reasonable doubt,” Mary Daubert, county spokeswoman, wrote in a prepared statement.
The investigation, prompted five years after the incident, was initiated after former Kaua‘i Police Chief K.C. Lum put Arinaga on administrative leave. The suspension came on the heels of Arinaga blowing the whistle on three vice officers who are accused of not attending a mandatory training in Maui. A hearing for that case is pending.
Arinaga insisted on an investigation of the three officers and Lum did not permit one, according to court documents in the suit Arinaga filed against the county.
The results of any settlement in that suit are sealed. A protective order is in place barring Arinaga from discussing the results of the settlement, if any.
In the suit, Arinaga accused Lum of retaliation, a violation of the state’s Whistleblowers’ Protection Act.
Lum said at the time that Arinaga was put on leave over an internal investigation of the 2000 incident, and nothing more.
• Amanda C. Gregg, staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 252) or agregg@kauaipubco.com.
