Arrests Made in Fallen Officer Investigation

Hawaiʻi Island police are continuing the investigation into individuals who they say may have provided assistance to fugitive Justin Waiki while he was on the run.

Latoya Poepoe-Spalding; Pomaikai Martin; Shaun Candaroma; and Joey Ikaika Camacho.

Police met with the four individuals referenced in a media release yesterday.

Joey Ikaka Camacho,31, (no known address), was arrested for outstanding warrants and Shaun Candaroma, 47, of Hilo has contacted detectives.

Additionally, 26-year-old Pomaikai Martin and 27-year-old Latoya Poepoe-Spalding, both of Kings Landing were arrested for outstanding warrants this morning at 6:25 a.m.  The arrests were made by patrol officers responding to a tip about their location within a vehicle at Bayfront.

Police say this prosecution investigation is in its early stages, and many more people need to be interviewed, some as witnesses and others as potential suspects.

Police ask that anyone who had contact with Justin Waiki between the time of the shooting on Tuesday, (July 17), at 9:47 p.m., and his apprehension on Friday, (July 20), at 2:45 p.m, or knows someone who had contact with him, to contact Detective William Brown of the Area I Criminal Investigation Section at (808) 961-2384 or William.brown@hawaiicounty.gov.

Background:

Waiki is accused of a deadly shooting that claimed the life of Officer Bronson Kaliloa during a traffic stop on Highway 11 in Mt. View on Tuesday, July 17, 2018.

On Thursday, police arrested two individuals after authorities received a tip that fugitive Justin Waiki was possibly sighted within a primer-colored Toyota pickup truck.  That incident resulted in a police chase that ended with the vehicle being abandoned in a private coffee field in Hōnaunau.

On Friday, July 20, acting on information received on suspect Waiki, police responded to the area of South Point in the Kaʻū district.  Police officers established a checkpoint where officers stopped an SUV. Members of the Department’s Special Response Team, were conducting checks within the vehicle when the suspect, 33-year-old Justin Waiki allegedly opened fire wounding an officer. Police say officers present returned fire resulting in the death of Waiki.

On Friday, police arrested three individuals–Jorge Pagan-Torres,35, and Malia Lajala, 30, both of Hilo, and Krystle Ferreira, 29 of Kamuela.  The three were accused of Hindering Prosecution and were charged with with one count each of being an accomplice to first degree attempted murder.