Full Notification

Hawaiʻi Police Department
Vice Section, Area II
Lieutenant Sherry Bird
Phone: 326-4646, Ext. 226
Report No. C16003772.


Media Release

Two men were charged with drug offenses Sunday (February 7) following their arrest Friday (February 5) in Kona.

Around 3:30 p.m. Friday, Area II Vice Officers observed 50-year-old Benjamin Fleming of Captain Cook to be an occupant of a sports-utility vehicle being operated by 52-year-old Richard Castro, who has no permanent address. Vice Officers were looking for Fleming in connection with an unrelated narcotics investigation and contacted both men at a business establishment on the 74-5000 block of Queen Kaʻahumanu Highway. As officers contacted them, they observed paraphernalia associated with methamphetamine use inside the vehicle. Both men were taken into custody and taken to the Kona police cellblock while Vice officers continued the investigation.

On Saturday (February 6), police executed a search warrant on the SUV and recovered 60.4 grams of suspected crystal methamphetamine, 15.5 grams of suspected cocaine, 14.5 grams of suspected heroin, 10.6 grams of suspected marijuana, paraphernalia associated with narcotics use and distribution, one unspent .32 caliber round and $4,174 in cash for forfeiture.

At 12:30 a.m. Sunday Castro was charged with first-degree promotion of a dangerous drug, second-degree promotion of a dangerous drug, third-degree promotion of a dangerous drug, meth trafficking, possessing drug paraphernalia, place to keep—ammunition and ownership/possession prohibited. His bail was set at $146,000. He remained at the cellblock pending his initial court appearance Monday morning (February 8).

Fleming was charged with third-degree promotion of a dangerous drug, third-degree promotion of a detrimental drug and possessing drug paraphernalia. His bail was set at $2,250. He was released on bail at 12:55 p.m. Sunday.


PHOTO CAPTION:
Benjamin Fleming
(no photo for Castro)