Police arrest 3, seize drugs in operation responding to drum circle complaints
Drugs and paraphernalia were seized by Kihei patrol officers on special assignment Sunday afternoon. MPD photo
Gadient
Phelan
Drugs and paraphernalia were seized by Kihei patrol officers on special assignment Sunday afternoon. MPD photo
Gadient
Phelan
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The Maui News
Kihei patrol officers arrested three people, including two who were sought on warrants, and seized drugs and paraphernalia during a special assignment Sunday afternoon to address complaints about drum circles at Poolenalena Beach in South Maui, police said.
The operation, which began at about 3 p.m., resulted in the arrests at 7:13 p.m. of Gary Gadient, 55, of Kihei and Kayla Phelan, 26, of Haiku after officers recognized them as being wanted on warrants, police said.
After Gadient was transported to the Kihei Police Station, police reported recovering one-eighth ounce of suspected crystal methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia as he was being processed. Gadient was released pending investigation of a drug charge.
He was arrested on a warrant charging him with violating an order for protection on Feb. 20. He was being held in lieu of $1,000 bail at the Maui Community Correctional Center.
Phelan was arrested on a $10,000 warrant charging her with two counts of attempted second-degree promotion of a dangerous drug, two counts of third-degree promotion of a dangerous drug, second-degree promotion of a detrimental drug and possessing drug paraphernalia, according to court records. The charges allege attempted distribution and possession of methamphetamine and cocaine on May 5, 2020.
She pleaded not guilty to the charges during her arraignment Monday in 2nd Circuit Court and was released on supervision, court records show.
As officers continued to make checks at the beach Sunday, a 44-year-old Napili woman approached one officer and offered "edible chocolates" containing "shrooms" or psilocybin mushrooms for sale, police said.
Police reported recovering nine pieces of wrapped chocolate containing suspected psilocybin mushrooms, over an ounce of marijuana vegetation, nine homemade capsules containing suspected ecstasy, 13 gold foil-wrapped round pills of suspected ecstasy and a digital scale.
The woman was arrested at 7:40 p.m. and released pending investigation of three counts of first-degree promotion of a dangerous drug, first-degree promotion of a detrimental drug and promoting a controlled substance near a park.