Fugitive's capture cost extra $160,000
By Peter Boylan and Rod Ohira
Advertiser Staff Writers
In the two weeks they searched for Kevin Gonsalves, police visited gambling houses and drug dens up and down the Wai'anae Coast, not only to apprehend the murder suspect, but also to deter possible further violence between two rival groups at the heart of the Jan. 7 shooting at the Pali Municipal Golf Course.
Both of the groups, involved in providing security for illegal gambling sites, were actively hunting Gonsalves, a high-ranking police official said.
Gonsalves
But acting on a tip that was separate from the Wai'anae searches, police found Gonsalves hiding under a bed in a Nanakuli home Tuesday.
At times, a task force of more than 100 officers participated in the search for the 33-year-old Gonsalves. Police officials estimated the overtime cost at $160,000.
Gonsalves was one of three men indicted by the O'ahu grand jury on first-
degree murder and firearm charges in the brazen daylight shooting that left two men dead and another seriously wounded at the Pali golf course two weeks ago.
The two men killed were Lepo Utu Taliese, who was shot several times in the chest and stomach, and Romilius Corpuz, who was shot in the head. Tinoimalu Sao, also shot in the head, was critically wounded.
Rodney Joseph Jr. and Ethan Motta were arrested the day of the shooting, but Gonsalves remained a fugitive until his arrest Tuesday.
Capt. Carlton Nishimura, who supervised the task force, said crime-reduction units from all eight districts were joined by officers from the Specialized Services Division, Criminal Investigation Division, criminal intelligence unit and District 8 patrol in the search for Gonsalves.
"The task force was not only trying to capture him but to prevent retaliation from rival factions," said Nishimura, who confirmed that the two groups connected to the shooting also were hunting Gonsalves.
Nishimura said the task force made it a point to visit illegal games in Wai'anae because the two factions looking for Gonsalves were "organized groups of people whose primary criminal enterprise was the protection of illegal gambling games."
"We wanted to saturate their elements and make them aware we were there," Nishimura said.
"By going to the gambling homes, we established a presence that deterred the factions and the players from causing violence at the games."
One of hundreds of tips received by police led them to the Nanakuli residence on Holopono Street where Gonsalves was found. The tip from a police informant early Tuesday morning identified the silver Mazda that Gonsalves was driving, Nishimura said.
"Finding the car was good police work on the part of District 6 (crime-reduction unit)," Nishimura said. "We had officers checking the back roads and were finally able to locate the car."
Three others were in the home with Gonsalves at the time of his arrest: a 41-year-old man, a 37-year-old woman and her 16-year-old daughter. The three were taken to the police substation in Kapolei for questioning but were not arrested, police said.
It was not known what their connection was to Gonsalves.
Catching Gonsalves proved difficult because he was always on the move.
"He never stayed in one place very long, moved around at night so the general public didn't see him, and had a good network to hide in," Nishimura said.
Police searched the Mazda and the Nanakuli home yesterday and recovered evidence. Investigators declined comment, however, on what was found.
Gonsalves, Joseph and Motta are all in custody in lieu of bail of $1 million each.
In a brief court appearance yesterday morning, District Judge Faye Koyanagi ordered Gonsalves to appear in Wai'anae District Court at 9 a.m. tomorrow to answer to three outstanding bench warrants and contempt-of -court citations for failing to show up for traffic court.
After that, Gonsalves' next court appearance is scheduled for 8:30 a.m. Monday in Circuit Court for his arraignment on the murder and weapons charges. On Tuesday, Joseph and Motta pleaded not guilty to the charges.
A trial date of March 22 has been assigned for the case but is likely to be pushed back.
State deputy public defender Dean Yamashiro said a public defender probably will represent Gonsalves at his arraignment on a stand-by basis, but won't be able to represent him throughout the trial since deputy public defender Todd Eddins already has been assigned to represent Motta.
Yamashiro said it appears that Honolulu attorney Clifford Hunt will be appointed by the court as Gonsalves' lawyer.
Advertiser staff writer David Waite contributed to this report. Reach Peter Boylan at 535-8110 or pboylan@honoluluadvertiser.com and Rod Ohira at rohira@honoluluadvertiser.com or 535-8181.
