WAILUKU - A Wailuku man is facing felony charges after police found a live grenade in a car he had been a passenger in.
Televise Sau, 42, is being held at the Maui Community Correctional Center in lieu of $526,000 bail, with a trial set for July 9 in 2nd Circuit Court.
He was arrested after Wailuku patrol officer Duke Pua made a traffic stop on a vehicle at 9:32 a.m. April 26 at Haleakala Highway and Makani Road.
While Pua talked to the driver, a woman who didn't have a driver's license, officer Martell Irish had police dispatch check on the name given by a man who was among four passengers, including three other women, in the vehicle.
Learning there was a warrant for the man's arrest, Irish ordered the suspect out of the car. The man pushed the officer and ran, police said. The officers chased the man and used a Taser to subdue him.
Police obtained permission to search the vehicle, finding a backpack on the floor in the back seat where the man had been sitting. Through a tear in the top of the backpack, Pua could see the grenade, according to police.
An Army Explosive Ordnance Disposal unit from Oahu was called to secure and detonate the World War II-era grenade, police said.
Police learned that the man in the vehicle was Sau, who didn't have a warrant for his arrest but had given the name of a relative who did.
Sau has pleaded not guilty to charges of being a felon in possession of a firearm, second-degree escape, prohibited possession of a hand grenade, third-degree promotion of a dangerous drug, possessing drug paraphernalia, prohibited possession of a firearm, resisting arrest and harassment.
According to court records, he is on felony probation for third-degree promotion of a dangerous drug and possessing drug paraphernalia.
