State may take over suspected drug house
By Brandon Masuoka
Advertiser Staff Writer
A Kalihi house that was raided by police Friday night and has been the scene of numerous drug and gambling arrests is being targeted by police to become the first home forfeited to the state, according to a high-ranking police official.
The property was also the site last year of a cockfight.
On Friday night, about 60 police officers raided the house at 686 Bannister St. and arrested 25 people on suspicion of gambling and drugs violations and on bench warrants, said Maj. Darryl Perry of the narcotics/vice division.
The Bannister Street house — mauka of the O'ahu Community Correctional Center and across the street from the Laumaka Work Furlough Center — has long been the best-known cockfighting spot in Honolulu, according to police. No cockfighting was going on during the raid, which was conducted after undercover drug buys and community complaints, Perry said.
Police recovered nearly $2,500, 74 metal cockfighting gaffs, crystal methamphetamine, drug pipes and some gambling devices, Perry said. They also initiated 53 cases, including 26 felony drug cases and three gambling cases, Perry said.
Police have raided the house at least twice, he said.
The property owner, Elliot Johnson, 68, told police he was a member of the Hawaiian sovereign nation and that state laws didn't apply to him, Perry said. Johnson was not arrested, Perry said.
"We'll be furthering our investigation," Perry said. "In the meantime, we'll be looking at seizing the property.
Perry said about nine people have a stake in the property and that police have to serve each with a forfeiture warning before action is taken. Police have not appraised the property, Perry said.
"In this instance, we're going to do research and find out if they were warned in the past," Perry said. "If they were warned, then we can go ahead and speak to the prosecutors about forfeiting the property. This would be the first for a state case. It's both gambling and drug related. It's a continuing enterprise. We need to put a stop to it."
In November, Leon R. Fernandez, of Kane'ohe, was killed and Eufracio Esmeralda, was seriously injured in an argument that started behind the house.
Police charged four men with second-degree murder and second-degree attempted murder.
