BREAKING: Kahului Man Arrested for Impersonation of FBI Agent

Eric Wayne Fernandez, courtesy photo.

By Wendy Osher

The US Army’s Explosive Ordinance Disposal Unit from Schofield Barracks arrived on Maui this morning to mitigate a live grenade found at the home of a Kahului man who was subsequently arrested for the alleged impersonation of an FBI agent.

The grenade was disposed of properly by the EOD unit this morning, but it was just one item in a list of firearm and law enforcement equipment found at the man’s residence.

Eric Wayne Fernandez was being held on a no-bail warrant following a search of the 109 Ani Street home in Kahului.

During the search authorities recovered: a .38 cal revolver; a taser; three air soft handguns; two air soft rifles with scopes (which resemble real guns); two FBI badges; one Maui Police badge; one hand grenade; ammunition; gunpowder; and FBI and Police raid clothing shirts.

109 Ani Street, Kahului. Photo by Wendy Osher.

Fernandez was arrested today for allegedly impersonating  a law enforcement officer, as well counts alleging forgery and theft.  Maui Police say the FBI will pursue federal charges against Fernadez as investigations by both agencies are ongoing.

The investigation began at 3:05 p.m. on Wednesday, April 18, when complainants reported to Bank of Hawaii that an unknown male had cashed one of their personal checks in the amount of $1,000.  The complainant told authorities that they noticed the check missing from their personal checkbook.  Bank of Hawaii records had shown that a Eric Fernandez had cashed the check at 1:55 p.m. on Tuesday, April 17, 2012.

109 Ani Street, Kahului. Photo by Wendy Osher.

Upon being informed of the person who cashed the check, the complainants told authorities that they have known Fernandez for the past three years.  According to authorities, they told police that Fernandez represented himself to them as a Federal Bureau Of Investigations Special Agent.

According to Maui Police, Fernandez had asked to go into the complaintant’s home to investigate a “cyber” crime that involved their daughter and a facebook account.  Police say the complainant gave Fernandez the key to his home and, upon returning home noticed several items missing from within, including an Apple itouch, 4 Apple gift cards, a gold heart shaped ring, and $300 in cash. The total value of items reported stolen was $1,630, according to authorities.

At around 4:38 p.m. on Wednesday, April 18, Wailuku Patrol officers conducted checks for Fernandez at his Kahului residence.  At that point, Fernandez was placed under arrest for Theft II, Forgery II, and Impersonating a Law Enforcement Officer.

Maui Police say a further check into Fernandez’s background revealed that he is also wanted in Sacramento, California, for an no-bail warrant.  Maui Police notified California authorities who plan to extradite Fernandez back to California.

The incident comes on the heels of another impersonation case on Maui in which 53-year-old Abraham Kantzabedian of Kula was arrested in February 2012, for the alleged false impersonation of a US officer.