Oʻokala man charged with firearms, drug offenses

Hawai‘i Island police have arrested and charged 30-year-old Chace Kakela Gambill with firearms and drug offenses for a May 6 incident. 

Shortly after 5 p.m., passing motorists saw a male carrying a rifle while walking along highway 19 within the Ka‘awali‘i Gulch in O‘okala. Responding officers located Gambill, who matched the description provided by the callers.

Gambill was not in possession of a rifle, but officers searched the area and found a shotgun hidden behind a guardrail that was close to Gambill.

Upon being arrested, Gambill was found in possession of ammunition of the same caliber as the recovered firearm and a glass smoking pipe with a crystal-like residue.

Area I Criminal Investigation Section detectives later served a search warrant on Gambill’s fanny-pack that was on his person upon arrest, which led to the recovery of additional ammunition and .4 grams of methamphetamine.

On May 8, Gambill was charged with the following offenses:

• place to keep firearm
• place to keep ammunition
• two-counts ownership or possession prohibited
• third-degree promotion of a dangerous drug
• drug paraphernalia  

Bail was set at $71,000.