Mountain View man charged with 12 drug and firearms offenses

Daniel Keith Kia‘i Tavares, 30 of Mountain View, was charged with the attempted distribution and possession of methamphetamine and prohibited possession of firearms offenses, according to the Hawaiʻi County Prosecutors Office.

On March 4, Hawaiʻi Island police contacted Tavares while he was in a vehicle parked on the shoulder of Akolea Road in Hilo.

Officers later executed a vehicle narcotics search warrant and recovered approximately 12 ounces of methamphetamine and two P80 framed, unserialized, and unregistered handguns. At the time of his arrest, Tavares was also arrested on an unrelated bench warrant, according to police. 

Tavares is scheduled to make his initial appearance in Hilo District Court on Tuesday  afternoon. He remains in custody in lieu of $347,000 bail.  

Tavares was charged with:

• First degree promotion of a dangerous drug (possessing more than one ounce of methamphetamine)
• First degree attempted promotion of a dangerous drug (attempt to distribute more than one-eighth ounce of  methamphetamine)
• Second degree promotion of a dangerous drug
• Two counts of having an unregistered handgun (a P80 framed 9mm pistol and a P80 framed .40 caliber pistol)
• Carrying a loaded firearm on a public highway (a P80 framed 9mm pistol)
• Carrying or using a firearm in commission of a separate felony
• Place to keep ammunition, ownership or possession of prohibited ammunition
• Two counts of possessing a prohibited firearm
• Two counts of manufacturing, purchasing or obtaining firearm parts to assemble a firearm with no serial number

First degree promotion of a dangerous drug, first degree attempted promotion of a dangerous drug and carrying or using a firearm in commission of a separate felony are all offenses punishable by a 20-year prison term.  

The case was initiated by Officer Andrew Springer, South Hilo Patrol, and the felony investigation was handled by Detective Kimo Keli‘ipa‘akaua, Area I Criminal Investigation  Section, Hawai‘i Police Department. The case is being prosecuted by Deputy Prosecuting  Attorney Patrick Muñoz.