Traffic death leads to drug, gun charges

By David Waite
Advertiser Courts Writer

A 31-year-old man who police say was driving the car that struck and killed a 76-year-old Waikiki woman Saturday on Diamond Head Road was charged yesterday with several federal offenses.

A criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court accuses Andres Paredes of firearm and drug charges, including carrying a gun while dealing crystal methamphetamine.

According to the criminal complaint, Paredes asked a Honolulu Police officer at the accident scene, "If I charge you, would you shoot me?" and, "What if I had a knife like this one?"

Paredes then brandished the knife and shouted, "Just shoot me," at which point he was arrested for terroristic threatening, police said.

Officers said they found a 12-gauge shotgun in the 1990 Subaru Paredes was driving and that he told them he was selling "dime bags" of crystal meth. Police said Paredes told them he was a chronic user of the drug, had smoked it the night before, and was carrying the shotgun for protection.

Reach David Waite at 525-8030 or at dwaite@honoluluadvertiser.com.