MEDIA RELEASE

Jovina Lagaret

On Thursday morning (September 2), Big Island police arrested two adults for drug offenses following a traffic stop near the 14-mile marker on Route 250 in Kohala.

Officers from the Area II Vice Section were seeking 24-year-old Jovina Lagaret of Kawaihae in connection with a drug investigation, when she was seen driving an SUV on Kohala Mountain Road. Lagaret and her passenger, 30-year-old Patrick Medeiros Jr. of Kapa’au, were taken into custody after a narcotic detection canine alerted to the odor of drugs coming from the SUV.

Patrick Medeiros Jr.

Investigators served a search warrant on the SUV early Thursday evening and recovered numerous packets containing a total of 5.6 grams of crystal methamphetamine, along with a digital scale, Valium tablets and rifle ammunition. In addition, $140 in cash was seized for forfeiture.

After conferring with prosecutors, both Lagaret and Medeiros were charged later that evening with one count each of promoting a dangerous drug, meth trafficking, promoting a harmful drug, place to keep ammunition and two counts of drug paraphernalia.

Bail for each was set at $21,500. The drugs have an estimated street value of $1,800.