Big Island man arrested after search warrant yields drugs, illegal firearms, suspected meth lab

A man from Pāhoa was taken into custody after a search warrant on two residences recovered several hundred grams of methamphetamine, cocaine and more than 1,700 grams of methamphetamine oil.

A preliminary investigation into Shannon Hostetler began six months ago, and his potential drug activity. After gaining enough probable cause, police were able to secure search warrants on the homes, located on a single parcel in Pāhoa.

The Hawai‘i Island police Vice Section, in coordination with Homeland Security Investigations, executed a federal search warrant on Tuesday at around 8 a.m. at two residences on Oceanview Parkway in the Black Sand subdivision.

When they arrived on scene they encountered Hostetler, 54, who was cooperative.

Officers found guns and drugs early on in the search. Capt. Ed Buyten, commander over the Vice Section, said a “clandestine science experience was also found where he (Hostetler) was dabbling in attemting to make meth or meth products.”

During the search, officers recovered:

• 289 grams of methamphetamine
• 459 grams of cocaine
• More than 1,700 grams of methamphetamine oil
• Seven firearms
• More than 6,000 rounds of ammunition
• More than $14,000 in U.S. currency

As the search went on, investigators found possible explosive devices and bomb-making materials. At that point, Buyten said the search stopped out of safety for the officers and community and they requested help from the bomb technicians, who brought out the following day.

The FBI, Maui and Kaua‘i Police Department bomb technicians secured and removed two partially constructed pipe bombs, as well as black powder, flash powder and other explosive materials.

Hostetler was taken into custody on Tuesday and booked. No charges have been filed as the investigation is ongoing, and the recovered drugs are still being tested and analyzed.

This bust comes after vice officers have recovered several pounds of methamphetamine and other drugs around the Big Island since the inception of the unified Vice Division, which was created six months ago with the sole mission to remove drugs from the community.

“The investigative efforts and focus on the drugs we have now are leading to larger seizures of drugs and weapons,” Buyten said.

Before the creation of the Vice Division, Hawai‘i Island police had two Vice Sections that operated out of West Hawai‘i and East Hawai‘i. With the creation of the division, Buyten said, those sections have been removed and centralized under one division with one commander.