16 More MCCC Detainees Tranferred to Hālawa, 5 Returned to Maui

MCCC Disturbance aftermath (May 2019). PC: Hawai’i Department of Public Safety.

Maui Community Correctional Center staff identified 16 additional, pre-trial inmates who allegedly “participated in a smaller capacity” in last Monday’s riot at the facility.

They arrived on a flight to Oahu at 10:30 a.m. and were transported to Hālawa Correctional Facility by 11 a.m., without incident.

Officials with the Department of Public Safety say “these detainees did not start the disturbance, but it was confirmed that they played a role in the disturbance and the immediate aftermath.”

Five detainees who were brought to Hālawa on the original flight were returned to MCCC today. Department officials say the original list of inmates was based on preliminary intel and questioning which was subject to change once more facts came in. “Follow up interviews and investigation confirm that they did not contribute to the disturbance,” officials said in a press release.

MCCC Recovery Update 3.19.19. PC: Department of Public Safety.

The total count of inmates transferred to Hālawa due to the disturbance is 32.

“We can’t say thank you enough to the staff who secured the air transport, and the Judiciary and other criminal justice entities who have been very accommodating in assisting us in all details of this action,” said Public Safety Director Nolan Espinda.

Department officials say MCCC staff have been “proactive” in identifying the inmates responsible for this incident and assessing damage so that the facility can return to normal operations as soon as possible.

“They continue to question inmates to determine all parties involved in all phases of the disturbance. Once all inmates responsible for the incident are confirmed, they will be brought up on criminal charges as well as internal disciplinary action, pending the outcome of the investigations,” department officials said.

The disturbance remains under investigation internally by the Department of Public Safety as well as criminally by the Maui Police Department.