Hawaii Island’s Most Wanted

The most recent edition of the Crime Stoppers television program “Hawaiʻi Island’s Most Wanted” highlights two men wanted on warrants and a third man who has already been located.

The new episode begins airing Friday.

Ted Barney John

In it, police ask for the public’s help in locating a man they have asked for the public’s help in finding before. Ted Barney John, 44, is still wanted on warrants for bail jumping, unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle and third-degree theft. Now, he is also wanted for questioning in a felony theft case. In September, the suspect in the theft case offered to do work for an 87-year-old Kailua-Kona man. After the victim paid the man for materials, the suspect cashed the check and never completed the work. John is described as 5-foot-7, 145 pounds with hazel eyes and brown hair.

Joseph Roy Carrion

The television program also asks for help in locating a 32-year-old Oahu man wanted on two bench warrants for contempt of court. Joseph Roy Carrion frequently travels to the Big Island and may be in the Waikoloa area. He is described as 5-foot-5, 165 pounds with black hair and brown eyes.

In this latest edition of “Hawaiʻi Island’s Most Wanted,” which was pre-recorded, Officer Patrick Menino also asks for help locating 43-year-old Michael Torres, who was wanted on a bench warrant and for questioning in connection with drug and auto theft cases. After the TV program was recorded, Police located and arrested Torres.

Police ask that anyone with information about either of the other two men call the Police Department’s non-emergency line at 935-3311 or Crime Stoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo or 329-8181 in Kona. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential. Crime Stoppers does not tape record phone calls or subscribe to caller ID.

“Hawaiʻi Island’s Most Wanted” is a project of Crime Stoppers Hilo, Inc., which is a partnership of the business community, the media and the police. It was inspired by the national TV show, “America’s Most Wanted.” The program airs on Na Leo O Hawaii Community Television Channel 54 on Sundays at 5 p.m. and Fridays at 5:30 p.m. It also airs intermittently on Channel 53.

 

Big Island Police Searching for 43-Year-Old Man Wanted for Bench Warrant and Questioning

Big Island police are looking for a 43-year-old man wanted on a bench warrant and for questioning.

Michael Torres

Michael Torres, who has no permanent address, is wanted on a $20,000 bench warrant for violating probation. He is also wanted for questioning in connection with a drug case and an unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle case.

He is described as 5-foot-9, 300 pounds with brown eyes and black and gray hair.

Police alert the public not to contact or approach Torres. Instead, anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call the Police Department’s non-emergency line at 935-3311.

Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo or 329-8181 in Kona and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000. Crime Stoppers is a volunteer program run by ordinary citizens who want to keep their community safe. Crime Stoppers doesn’t record calls or subscribe to caller ID. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.

Warrants for Traffic Stops Lead to Five People Getting Arrested for Narcotics Offenses

Three men and two women were arrested for narcotics offenses Friday(January 6) after a coordinated effort between the Area II Ice Task Force and North Kohala Community Policing and Patrol Officers led to execution of two unrelated search warrants, each stemming from traffic stops.

Kaipo Botelho-Matthey

Police stopped a pickup truck driven by 26-year-old Kaipo Botelho-Matthey of Hawi on Union Mill Road in Kapaʻau because of a defective tail light. Further investigation led to the arrest of Botelho-Matthey and his passenger, 26-year-old Trent Fujii of Hawi, on suspicion of drug charges. In a search warrant on the truck the following day, police recovered resealable plastic packets containing crystalline substance, a glass smoking pipe with crystalline residue, an unregistered .22 caliber firearm, ammunition,and $852 in cash.

Evelyn Lopez

A second traffic stop on a sedan driven by 24-year-old Evelyn Lopez of Hilo led to the arrest of Lopez and her two passengers, 43-year-old Michael Torres of Kapaʻau and 23-year-old Zerica Bell-Ching of Hawi. Upon execution of a search warrant on Saturday, officers recovered a container that contained a crystalline residue, a glass smoking pipe with crystalline residue, .22 caliber ammunition, and $116 in cash.

Michael Torres

The five suspects were held at the Kona police cellblock while detectives from the Vice Section continued the investigation.

At 3:40 p.m. Sunday, detectives charged Botelho-Matthey with second-degree promoting dangerous drugs, third-degree promoting dangerous drugs, three firearms offenses, driving with a defective tail light and two counts of possessing drug paraphernalia. His bail was set at $14,000.

Fujii was released pending further investigation.

Zerica Bell-Ching

At 3:45 p.m. Sunday, Lopez and Bell-Ching were charged with one count each of third-degree promoting dangerous drugs and possessing drug paraphernalia. Lopez was also charged with a no-fault insurance offense. Her bail was set at $4,025 and Bell-Ching’s bail was set at $4,000.

Torres was charged with two counts each of third-degree promoting dangerous drugs and possessing drug paraphernalia, and three firearms offenses. His bail was set at $51,000.

The recovered cash from both vehicles was seized for forfeiture.

All five individuals were held at the Kona Police station pending their initial court appearances on Monday morning at Kona District Court.

These arrests are part of the Police Department’s ongoing effort to curtail illegal drug distribution in our community. Concerned citizens are encouraged to continue to provide tips to the Vice Sections at 934-8423 in Hilo and 329-0423 in Kona.