Waimea man released on bail for one day back in jail for threatening a police officer

Only one day after being released on bail for fireworks and drug offenses, a 31-year-old Waimea man was arrested and charged for threatening a Hawai‘i Police Department officer.

Following a month-long investigation, Hawai‘i Island police arrested Kendall Artuyo and his 31-year-old wife, Lexa Artuyo on Dec. 30, 2022, after serving a search warrant on the couple’s Waimea residence.

During that investigation, police recovered nearly 1.9 grams of fentanyl mixture, 30 Suboxone pills having a total street value of more than $2,200 and more than 25 pounds of illegal aerial fireworks. Police also seized more than $2,572 in U.S. currency for forfeiture.  

On New Year’s Eve, the couple were charged with numerous offenses relating to drugs, endangering the welfare of a child and illegal fireworks violations. Lexa Artuyo was subsequently released on her own recognizance due to a medical issue. Kendell Artuyo posted bail and bonded out from custody on Jan. 3.

While out on bail, Kendall Artuyo contacted a police officer, making threatening statements to the officer. Detectives from the Area II Criminal Investigation Section continued the investigation and Artuyo was located and arrested without incident on Jan. 4 in South Kohala.

Artuyo was charged with one count of first-degree terroristic threatening. His bail is set at $10,000. He remains in police custody pending his initial court appearance scheduled for today.