An Ocean View man faces multiple drug charges after a Kona traffic stop led to the discovery of narcotics in his car, Hawai‘i Island police report. During a routine patrol on Tuesday, Kona officers stopped a 2006 Mitsubishi Eclipse driven by Corey Branch, a 68-year-old resident of Hawaiian Ocean View Estates, for outdated vehicle safety inspection and registration tags, the stop took place at 5:24 p.m. in Kailua-Kona.
According to the Hawai‘i Police Department, officers spotted a marijuana smoking pipe inside the vehicle during the interaction with Branch, leading to his arrest on an outstanding warrant for failing to appear in court, and the discovery 1.9 grams of methamphetamine on his person. A narcotics canine signaled the presence of drugs, resulting in the vehicle being impounded pending a search warrant.
Following the approval of a search warrant, Vice detectives found an additional 11 grams of methamphetamine, 7.3 grams of marijuana, and various drug-related paraphernalia in Branch's vehicle on Wednesday. Branch has since been charged with several offenses, including second-degree promoting a dangerous drug, third-degree promoting both a dangerous and a detrimental drug, driving without a license, and lacking motor vehicle insurance, with bail set at a cumulative $74,100.
Hawai‘i County authorities are urging the community to report illegal drug activities to improve public safety and community welfare, residents can use the non-emergency line at (808) 935-3311 or the "ICE" hotline at (808) 329-0423 for this purpose, they are seeking to build a partnership with the community to ensure the environment is safer. For tips about this specific case, officer Elijah Won of the Vice Section can be contacted at (808) 326-4646, or via email at [email protected].
