The Maui News

A driver who stopped a vehicle on the roadway in support of those protesting the Thirty Meter Telescope atop Mauna Kea was arrested Monday when a bolt-action rifle, ammunition and marijuana were found in the vehicle, police said.

Officers were monitoring the protesters who were waving signs on the makai side of Honoapiilani Highway near Kaanapali Parkway in Lahaina at about 6 p.m. when the southbound silver sport utility vehicle drove past the protesters, police said. The vehicle came to a complete stop, apparently attempting to force vehicles following it to stop in front of the protesters, police said.

The vehicle had a Hawaii flag affixed to its rear window and appeared to be supporting or participating in the protest by driving slowly past the sign-wavers, police said.

When officers conducted a traffic stop on the vehicle for impeding traffic and approached to make contact with the driver, officers saw three rounds of loose rifle ammunition in the open ashtray, police said.

The driver, a 19-year-old Wailuku man, was removed from the vehicle and gave permission for a search of the vehicle, police said. Police reported recovering an unloaded bolt-action rifle, six rounds of loose rifle ammunition, 20 rounds of secured rifle ammunition, a pair of brass knuckles, a butterfly knife and 40.7 grams of marijuana.

The driver was released pending further investigation of charges, including keeping an unloaded firearm in an improper place, keeping ammunition in an improper place, prohibited possession of a butterfly knife, prohibited possession of a deadly weapon and second-degree promoting of a detrimental drug.