ROB SHIKINA
Eric Wayne Fernandez, 39, allegedly impersonated an FBI agent to burglarize a home on Maui.
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A 49-year-old Kahului man who had a live grenade at his home, prompting police to call in an Army explosive ordnance disposal team from Oahu, remained in police custody Friday after he allegedly impersonated an FBI agent to burglarize a home, Maui police said.
Eric Wayne Fernandez was arrested Wednesday for investigation of second-degree theft, second-degree forgery and impersonating a law enforcement officer. He remained in custody on a no-bail warrant for offenses in Sacramento, Calif., and will be extradited. The FBI is also pursuing federal charges against him, Maui police said.
Fernandez also allegedly cashed a stolen check for $1,000 Tuesday. The check’s owner, who has known Fernandez for three years, reported to his bank that someone may have cashed a check he was missing. Bank records showed Fernandez cashed it, and police went to his home Wednesday.
Before cashing the check, Fernandez had asked the victim whether he could go into his home as an FBI special agent to investigate a cybercrime targeting the victim’s daughter, police said. The victim gave Fernandez the key to his home but later noticed $1,630 worth of items missing.
Fernandez was arrested Wednesday at his Ani Street home, where detectives found two FBI badges, one Maui police badge and FBI and police raid uniforms, police said. Also found were an illegal electronic stun gun and a live grenade without a firing pin.
The Army’s Explosive Ordnance Disposal team from Schofield Barracks flew to Maui on Friday and destroyed the grenade, police said.