Prosecuting Attorney Kelden Waltjen announced that Hawai‘i County has recently implemented the use of electronic search warrants (“e-warrants”). The electronic warrants are intended to expedite the process of securing a warrant to draw a suspect’s blood in order to obtain alcohol and drug analysis in operating a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant (“DUI”), negligent homicide, and negligent injury cases.
In the past, police officers would draft a written search warrant, meet with a judge in person to review the warrant application, and then coordinate the suspect’s blood draw with medical staff.
In a press release Hawaiʻi County Prosecuting Attorney Kelden Waltjen said, “Electronic search warrants will streamline processes and provide law enforcement with critical and reliable evidence that may be lost if a warrant is not secured in a timely fashion. Obtaining accurate blood alcohol concentration levels and evidence of drug use may be critical to successfully prosecute an impaired driving case. E-warrants are another valuable tool that law enforcement can use to address impaired driving, make our roadways safer, and save lives.”

Aircraft Makes Emergency Crash North of Kona Airport
Yesterday morning, Hawaiʻi County Fire Department (HFD) Units were dispatched following a report of an aircraft…