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Maui drum circle investigation results in drug bust, 3 arrests

MAUI COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT
                                Gary Gadient, 55, left, of Kihei and Kayla Phelan, 26, of Haiku.
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MAUI COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT

Gary Gadient, 55, left, of Kihei and Kayla Phelan, 26, of Haiku.

MAUI COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT
                                Drugs and drug paraphernalia were recovered by police at a Maui beach park on Sunday.
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MAUI COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT

Drugs and drug paraphernalia were recovered by police at a Maui beach park on Sunday.

MAUI COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT
                                Gary Gadient, 55, left, of Kihei and Kayla Phelan, 26, of Haiku.
MAUI COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT
                                Drugs and drug paraphernalia were recovered by police at a Maui beach park on Sunday.

What started out as an investigation into complaints regarding a drum circle at a Maui beach park turned into a drug bust on Sunday, according to the Maui Police Department.

Maui police arrested three individuals for suspicion of drug-related charges and confiscated a cache of drugs by the end of the day.

At about 3 p.m., MPD said plainclothes officers went to Poolenalena Beach in Kihei to investigate the drum circle and spotted two individuals — a man and a woman – with outstanding bench warrants.

Later that evening, police arrested Gary Gadient, 55, of Kihei, and Kayla Phelan, 26, of Haiku.

While processing Gadient, police said they recovered about one-eighth of an ounce of suspected crystal methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia.

He was charged with third-degree promotion of a dangerous drug as well as violating a protection order. He remains in custody at Maui Community Correctional Center, with bail set at $1,000.

Police charged Phelan with numerous drug-related charges that include first-degree promotion of a dangerous and detrimental drug. Her bail was set at $10,000.

She was released pending her court hearing.

While the officers were at the beach, a 44-year-old woman from Napili approached and offered one of them edible chocolates containing “shrooms” for a price.

Police also arrested her, and have released her pending investigation of several drug-related charges.

Through the investigation, police said they recovered marijuana, wrapped chocolates containing suspected psilocybin mushrooms, suspected ecstacy capsules and pills and a digital scale.

Maui police warned they would continue to crack down on illegal activities at beach parks.

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