David Y. Ige

HONOLULU — A large quantity of copper wire was located today at Ke‘ehi lagoon area today by enforcement officers of the Department of Land and Natural Resources.

At about 10:30 a.m. today, a DLNR Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement (DOCARE) officer encountered a male and female near a parked vehicle in Sand Island State Recreation Area.  The pair appeared to be in possession of stripped copper wire which raised suspicion of their activity.  The DOCARE officer approached the pair to investigate, and at that time, the male fled the area on foot, while the female attempted to leave in their vehicle.  The officer pursued the female, and stopped her.  She was issued citations for various traffic offenses and released.

Additional DOCARE and Honolulu Police Department officers were called to Sand Island State Park and the neighboring areas to locate the male who had fled on foot.  Officers were able to locate a suspect matching the description of the male, who fled within the homeless encampment near the former paintball field adjacent to Nimitz highway.  This male was later released at the scene pending further investigation.

During their canvass of the homeless encampment, officers discovered a substantial amount of copper wiring for which no claim of ownership, or determination of origin or status could be made.

Investigation as to the ownership, origin and status of this wiring is on-going.  The copper wiring has been taken into DOCARE custody for safekeeping pending further development.

Anyone with information as to the origin or status of this copper wiring is asked to contact the Division of Conservation and Resources Enforcement, O‘ahu Branch at 643-DLNR.

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Media contact
Deborah Ward

DLNR Communications specialist

Phone: (808) 587-0320