Waimea man faces drug, firearms charges following early morning traffic stop in Puna

A 42-year-old Waimea man is facing several drug and firearms charges following an early morning traffic stop Nov. 8 on Government Beach Road in Puna.

The Office of the Prosecuting Attorney of Hawai‘i County reports that George-David Summers is charged with:

• Second-degree promoting a dangerous drug.
• Third-degree promoting a dangerous drug.
• Place to keep loaded firearms other than pistols and revolvers.
• Carrying or possessing a loaded firearm on a public highway.
• Place to keep ammunition.
• Third-degree promoting a detrimental drug.

Summers made his initial appearance Tuesday afternoon in Hilo District Court. His bail was maintained at $173,000 and he was ordered to appear Nov. 14 for a preliminary hearing.

The most serious offenses — place to keep loaded firearms other than pistols and revolvers, carrying or possessing a loaded firearm on a public highway and second-degree promoting a dangerous drug — are Class B felonies, punishable by either 10 years in prison or 4 years probation and up to 18 months in jail.

Summers was arrested after Hawai‘i Police Department officers executed a search warrant on the vehicle he was driving and recovered a loaded .22-caliber semi-automatic rifle with a thermal scope, live .22-caliber ammunition, two spent casings, 16-plus grams of methamphetamine and four glass smoking pipes.

The case was initiated by Hawai‘i Police Department Puna Community Policing Section Officers Bryson Miyose, Eddie Cardines and Terence Scanlan. The felony investigation was led by Hawai‘i Police Department Area I Criminal Investigation Section Detective David Po‘ohina.

The case is being prosecuted by Deputy Hawai‘i County Prosecuting Attorney Andrew Son.