Puna Man Arrested for Drug, Weapons Offenses

The Hawai’i Police Department has arrested a 41-year-old Kailua-Kona man for numerous drug and weapon offenses after driving with a suspended license.

Police say John Lopez was arrested at 2:45 p.m. Tuesday for driving with a suspended license after officers observed him operating a vehicle on Highway 190 near the Makalei Fire Station.

Narcotics search warrants were executed by Area II Vice officers on him and his vehicle. In the search, officers recovered a loaded semi-automatic handgun, numerous rounds of unspent ammunition, 31.4 grams of a crystalline substance suspected to be methamphetamine, 29.4 grams of a black tar-like substance suspected to be heroin, 156.4 grams of a dried green leafy plant material suspected to be marijuana, and drug paraphernalia associated with methamphetamine use and narcotics distribution.

Detectives continued the investigation and Lopez was taken to the Kona police station.

Lopez was charged with driving with a suspended license, first-degree methamphetamine trafficking, first-degree promotion of dangerous drugs, second-degree promotion of detrimental drugs, possessing drug paraphernalia, and seven weapon offenses, including being a felon in possession of a firearm and possessing a firearm with the intent to facilitate the commission of a felony drug offense.

Lopez remains at the cellblock on $441,000 bail. His initial court appearance is scheduled for Friday morning.