MEDIA RELEASE

John Lopez

A Kona man caught driving with a suspended license has been charged with numerous drug and weapon offenses.

At 2:45 p.m. Tuesday (September 1) 41-year-old John Lopez of Kailua-Kona was arrested for driving with a suspended license after officers observed him operating a vehicle on Highway 190 near the Makalei Fire Station.

Area II Vice officers executed narcotics search warrants on his person and vehicle and recovered a loaded semi-automatic handgun, numerous rounds of unspent ammunition, 31.4 grams of a crystalline substance suspected to be methamphetamine, 29.4 grams of a black tar-like substance suspected to be heroin, 156.4 grams of a dried green leafy plant material suspected to be marijuana and drug paraphernalia associated with methamphetamine use and narcotics distribution.

Lopez was taken to the Kona police station while detectives continued the investigation.

At 11:30 a.m. Thursday, Lopez was charged with driving with a suspended license, first-degree methamphetamine trafficking, first-degree promotion of dangerous drugs, second-degree promotion of detrimental drugs, possessing drug paraphernalia and seven weapon offenses, including being a felon in possession of a firearm and possessing a firearm with the intent to facilitate the commission of a felony drug offense.

His bail was set at $441,000. He remains at the cellblock pending his initial court appearance scheduled for Friday morning.