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

This story was updated at 3:20 p.m. Nov. 13.

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.

Hawai‘i Police Department reports that Puna Community Policing Officers were conducting a crime suppression project early the morning of Nov. 8 when they came across a black Honda 4-door sedan parked partially in the roadway on Government Beach Road, just north of Papaya Farms Road.

Officers stopped to see if assistance was needed when they observed a black rifle with black buttstock and metal barrel on the vehicle’s floorboard.

They arrested Summers, who was seated in the driver’s seat, and 42-year-old Kaleinani Brzezowski of Kea‘au, who was seated in the front passenger’s seat.

Both were transported to the East Hawai’i Detention Center in Hilo for booking, processing and continued investigation by Hawai‘i Police Department detectives.

Brzezowski was later released, pending further investigation.

The suspect vehicle was towed to the department’s Area I Criminal Investigation secured vehicle evidence cage, pending execution of a search warrant.

Detectives executed a search warrant later that day and recovered:

• A functioning Ruger 522 Viper .22-caliber semi-automatic rifle loaded with a round in the chamber and a loaded magazine with another seven live rounds.
• 16.82 grams of methamphetamine.
• 3 methamphetamine-smoking pipes
• Numerous live and spent .22-caliber ammunition.
• 2.83 grams of marijuana.

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.

Anyone who might have information about this incident can contact Po‘ohina at 808-961-2385 or via email at david.poohina@hawaiicounty.gov.