Suspects in Kihei Auto Sales theft arrested

Patrol officers spot one of missing vehicles at McGregor Point

Two people were arrested Wednesday morning in connection with the theft of four vehicles and some tools from Kihei Auto Sales earlier this week, said Acting Police Chief Dean Rickard.

Around 1 a.m., Kihei patrol officers saw a vehicle at the upper dirt parking lot area of McGregor Point. Officers checked the license plate, which was fraudulent, but the vehicle identification number matched one of the vehicles that had been stolen from Kihei Auto Sales, Rickard said during a virtual Maui Police Commission meeting Wednesday afternoon. He noted that even though the department may be understaffed, officers continue to do solid investigative work.

A man and a woman who were in the vehicle were detained, and police found an unmarked silver revolver handgun, a little more than 2 1/2 grams of crystal methamphetamine, 14.5 grams of marijuana and prescription medication, which did not belong to the people in the car, Rickard said.

Between 4 p.m. Sunday and 6:30 a.m. Monday, police said a building at Kihei Auto Sales/South Maui Motors was burglarized and four vehicles along with other items were taken.

Kihei Auto Sales officials said the stolen vehicles and tools are valued at around $80,000.

In speaking about how the short-staffed department continues to address concerns of drugs and firearms, Rickard said that on Monday the Crime Reduction Unit executed a search warrant on a 41-yearold man’s residence in which they found multiple 3D printers that are used to make firearms, nonregistered firearms, double-bladed knives, ammunition, 46 grams of crystal methamphetamine and packaged marijuana for sale.

Along with the 41-year-old man, another adult male and three adult females were at the home. None of the firearms found were registered to them.

Rickard said three of the five people at the home were arrested. According to police records, a 41-year-old man was arrested along with a 31-year-old man and a 61-year-old woman. All had Kahului addresses and were released pending investigation.

Rickard said the Crime Reduction Unit, made up of five officers, last month secured 12 search warrants and made 53 arrests. Multiple quantities of drugs, six firearms and $84,000 in cash were also recovered.

In the last year, they made 1,500 arrests and seized multiple quantities of drugs including a total of 18 pounds of crystal methamphetamine and $397,000 in cash.

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