KAILUA-KONA, Hawaii (AP) - A grand jury has indicted two retired Hawaii Police Department officers in a case involving stolen drug evidence, according to court records.
A grand jury convened in Kona on Hawaii Island Tuesday to hear charges against former officers Brian Miller and Chadwick Fukui, West Hawaii Today reported .
An initial police investigation began in fall 2017 when cocaine was found to be lighter than reported when it was originally recovered in 2014. The evidence was being weighed in preparation to use a small quantity for training purposes, police said.
The investigation identified an employee who was placed on administrative leave. Subsequent audits of other evidence revealed weight discrepancies in drugs from two separate investigations, police said.
Miller was indicted on several criminal counts including theft, obstructing government operations, tampering with physical evidence by destroying or mutilating it, promoting a dangerous drug, hindering prosecution, conspiracy to commit hindering prosecution, and conspiracy to commit tampering with physical evidence by destroying or mutilating it.
Fukui was indicted on charges of hindering prosecution, criminal conspiracy and tampering with physical evidence.
Lance Yamada, Stacey Yamada, David Colon and Ivar Kaluhikaua - all civilians - were also indicted in connection with the case. They face the same charges as Fukui, records said.
More than 20 witnesses were called including current and former Hawaii Police Department officers.
“If officers are doing wrong, we’re going to prosecute,” Hawaii Police Chief Paul Ferreira said.
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Information from: West Hawaii Today, http://www.westhawaiitoday.com
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