Hawai’i Island police arrested and charged Justin Jay Flores and Theresa Pua Olena Borges, both 41-years-old, with an array of firearms and drug offenses.
After conferring with the County Prosecutor’s Office, detectives charged the couple, each with the following offenses. Bail for both was set at $141,000.
- Place to keep loaded firearm
- Four counts ownership or possession prohibited
- Three counts place to keep ammunition
- Third-degree promotion of a dangerous drug
The charges against Flores and Borges stem from an April 25 incident when Puna Community Policing officers were following up on a report of gunshots being heard in the Nanawale Estates subdivision in Pāhoa the previous evening. Officers contacted the caller who directed them towards the area where the gunshots were believed to have originated from. As officers went to investigate, they located a van parked fronting a residence on Hapu’u Road, with two individuals sleeping within. They also observed a lever action rifle on the vehicle floor between Flores and Borges. Officers then instructed both parties to exit the vehicle.
Flores and Borges were then arrested and the vehicle was recovered as evidence pending execution of a search warrant. Officers also observed spent .22 caliber casings in the area of the parked vehicle.
Area I Criminal Investigation Section detectives later served a search warrant on the vehicle. The search yielded the recovery of the rifle, which was determined to be loaded, various caliber ammunition, just under .7 grams methamphetamine, and a glass smoking pipe with residue. The firearm was also determined to have previously been reported stolen.
