HAWAII COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT
EAST HAWAII CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION DIVISION
CAPTAIN CHAD FUKUI
PHONE: 961-2251
MARCH 10, 2004

MEDIA RELEASE UPDATE

A male suspect was charged with attempted murder and a number of other offenses and seven other persons were arrested as the result of a drug raid on a Waimea residence.

One of the suspects, identified as Randall L. Cruz, 48, of Waimea, was charged with attempted murder for allegedly trying to run over one of the West Hawaii Vice Section officers as they were executing a search warrant on the residence, near the 55-mile marker of the Hawaii Belt Road (Route 19).

About 9 p.m. Tuesday (March 8, 2005) as the officers were executing the search warrant, Cruz drove a late model Isuzu sports utility vehicle into the driveway. When officers identified themselves and approached the vehicle, it abruptly reversed in an attempt to flee the scene, striking a fence post, a warehouse and a tractor in the process.

As the officers attempted to apprehend the driver, the SUV started moving rapidly toward one of the officers, who fired a round from his weapon. The vehicle then struck boulders on the side of the driveway and stopped. Cruz and his passenger, Weston K. Lindsey, 36, whose residence was being searched, were arrested.

The officer who fired his weapon, a 23-year veteran of the Hawaii County Police Department, was not injured in the incident.

East Hawaii Criminal Investigation Section detectives investigating the alleged murder attempt charged Cruz with first-degree attempted murder and with resisting arrest on Thursday (March 10, 2005). In addition, East Hawaii Vice Section detectives charged him with third-degree promotion of a dangerous drug, third-degree promotion of a detrimental drug and two counts of illegal possession of drug paraphernalia after they searched the SUV and found 1.5 grams of crystal methamphetamine, or “ice,” and 9.5 grams of dried processed marijuana and a number of pills.

Cruz is being held in the Kona police cellblock in lieu of $206,750 bail. If convicted on the attempted murder charge, he faces a possible sentence of life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.

Lindsey, whose residence was searched, was arrested for attempted murder, one count of promoting a dangerous drug, one count of promotion of a harmful drug, one count of promoting a detrimental drug and two counts of possessing illegal drug paraphernalia. He has been released pending further investigation.

Executing a search warrant at Lindsey’s residence, officers found 1.8 grams of crystal methamphetamine, 23.3 grams dried processed marijuana and a number of pills.

Three men and three women who were at the residence were also arrested by West Hawaii Vice Section detectives and released pending further investigation. They are:

• Nani Jo Keanini, 29, of no permanent address, arrested for one count of promotion of a dangerous drug, one count of promotion of a detrimental drug and one count of illegal possession of drug paraphernalia.

• Misty Key, 39, of Honokaa, Hamakua, arrested for two counts of promotion of a dangerous drug, one count of promotion of a detrimental drug and two counts of illegal possession of drug paraphernalia.

• Jamey Pang, 31, of Hawi, North Kohala, arrested for one count of promotion of a dangerous drug, one count of promotion of a detrimental drug and one count of illegal possession of drug paraphernalia.

• Chad Piilani, 27, of no permanent address, arrested for one count of promotion of a dangerous drug, one count of promotion of a detrimental drug and one count of illegal possession of drug paraphernalia.

• Natalie Taketa, 32, of Kailua-Kona, arrested for three counts of promotion of a dangerous drug, one count of promotion of detrimental drug paraphernalia.

• Thomas Pahio, 43, of Honokaa, Hamakua, arrested for three counts of promotion of a dangerous drug, two counts of promotion of a detrimental drug and three counts of illegal possession of drug paraphernalia.

In addition to the investigation by East Hawaii CIS detectives, the Internal Affairs Unit is also conducting an investigation into the incident, which is standard practice whenever an officer fires his weapon in the line of duty.

# # #