Puna Man Faces 31 Charges Following Narcotic Warrant

A narcotics search warrant served to a Puna man at his Fern Acres property led to his arrest and 31 charges.

Fifty-eight-year-old Michael Doyle Ruggles was arrested after officers executed a search warrant on a Pikake Street home at 10:55 a.m. Thursday.

During the search, HPD recovered 134 marijuana plants, 49.3 pounds of dried processed marijuana, 1.2 pounds and 357 capsules of suspected marijuana concentrate, 5.5 pounds of marijuana edibles, $1,846 in cash for forfeiture, a loaded pistol, a loaded shotgun, and a 15-round magazine for a pistol.

Ruggles was arrested at the scene and taken to the Hilo police cellblock as detectives from the Vice Section continued to investigate.

On Friday at 3:15 p.m., Ruggles was charged with five counts of promoting marijuana, seven counts of promoting a harmful drug, four counts of promoting a detrimental drug, 14 counts of possessing drug paraphernalia, and one count of prohibited magazine ownership.

Ruggles’ bail was set at $84,500. He remains at the cellblock pending his initial court appearance, scheduled for Monday.