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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Wednesday, December 30, 2009

Residents seek police probe of land dispute incident

Advertiser Staff

Lä'ie community members have asked the Honolulu Police Department to investigate an incident in which officers allegedly used pepper spray on people who blocked access Saturday to land controlled by the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints.

A group of Native Hawaiians say a 33-acre parcel near the Crackle Fresh egg farm store on Kamehameha Highway belongs to them. But Jace McQuivey, vice president of Hawaii Reserves Inc., a church business entity, said the land belongs to Property Reserves Inc., which is owned by the Mormon church.

On Saturday, a group of people set up a barrier to block access to the land. Dawn Wasson, a Lä'ie resident, said police used pepper spray on the group. McQuivey acknowledged that pepper spray was used, but only after police tried for 12 hours to negotiate with the group.

Police spokesman Maj. Clayton Kau on Monday accepted a letter from Wasson requesting a review of the police action, saying he would take it to Chief Louis Kealoha.

"Based upon what Miss Wasson is telling me, he'll look at it and probably forward it on to our Internal Affairs Section," Kau said.