Waikoloa Man Charged on Drug, Weapon Offenses

The Hawai’i Police Department has charged a Waikoloa man with various offenses involving drugs and weapons after concerned citizens reported that they saw a man in a parked car with its engine running for two hours.

Kona Patrol officers responded just after 8 p.m. after receiving a call to check on a man’s welfare in the parking lot of a Henry Street business in Kona. Upon arrival, officers found the man slumped over the driver’s seat of a sports-utility vehicle with the engine still running.

HPD reports that after awaking the man, he appeared to be under the influence of an intoxicant. Police also observed paraphernalia that was associated with intravenous drug use inside the SUV.

Derek Conway, 39, was arrested and taken to the Kona police cellblock as Area II Vice Section continued to investigate.

Vice officers executed a search warrant on the SUV on Saturday morning, where they recovered 40.7 grams of suspected heroin, 2.8 grams of suspected methamphetamine, 26 diverted pharmaceutical pills, a switchblade, and $2,457 in cash for forfeiture.

Conway was charged on Saturday after 5:45 p.m. with operating a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant, first-degree promotion of a dangerous drug, four counts of third-degree promotions of a dangerous drug, and one count each of fourth-degree promotion of a harmful drug, possession of drug paraphernalia, and possessing a prohibited switchblade.

After posting $112,000 bail on Sunday, Conway was released from custody.