One of three accused Big Island accomplices to fugitive Justin Waiki claimed that Waiki shot the 35-year-old woman who was hiding in the back of a sport utility vehicle with him, said a courtroom observer who asked not to be named.
Maile Lajala, who was a passenger in the SUV, alleged that Waiki, the 33-year-old alleged cop killer, shot Jamie Jason because she tipped off police as to his whereabouts. Lajala made the statement to police and was recorded on a DVD presented as state’s evidence during a preliminary hearing Tuesday in Kona District Court.
A court document filed by prosecutors Monday said Jason was shot in the leg during the shootout with Waiki and police, and also had a broken femur.
Waiki allegedly opened fire, shooting police Sgt. Bryan Tina multiple times when he opened the back of the SUV where the pair had been hiding under some blankets Sunday after they were stopped at a blockade on South Point Road. He was shot and killed when other officers opened fire at the blockade.
Waiki led police on an islandwide manhunt, putting the community on edge after he allegedly fatally shot police officer Bronson Kaliloa, 46, on July 17 during a traffic stop in Mountain View and fled on foot.
The preliminary hearing for Lajala, Krystle Ferreira, 29, and driver Jorge Pagan-Torres, 35, will resume 1:30 p.m. Aug. 23 at Kona District Court.
The three are charged as accomplices to Waiki with first-degree hindering prosecution, criminal conspiracy, complicity to attempted first-degree murder and illegal firearm possession. The two women also were charged with third-degree promotion of a dangerous drug.
On Tuesday morning police arrested three others suspected of aiding Waiki. (Police initially reported four were arrested.)
Capt. Randall Medeiros of the Criminal Investigations Division Area I said suspects Joey I. Camacho, 31, of no known address, and King’s Landing residents Pomaikai Martin, 26, and Latoya Poepoe-Spalding, 27, were arrested on outstanding bench warrants.
Camacho turned himself in at the Hilo police station before 4 a.m. Police arrested Martin and Poepoe-Spalding at about 6:25 a.m. after officers obtained information as to their whereabouts. They were spotted in a vehicle on Hilo Bayfront Highway.
Medeiros described the three as “associates” of Waiki but said they have not been arrested for hindering prosecution at this time.
A fourth suspect, Shaun Candaroma, 47, of Hilo met with detectives at about 7:15 a.m. but was not arrested.
Medeiros said the hindering-prosecution investigation is still in its early stages as police have to interview more witnesses and potential suspects. “There’s a lot of people we need to talk to,” he said, but declined to say how many potential suspects there are.
Medeiros stressed police want to speak to anyone who had contact with Waiki or knows of any individuals who had contact with him from 9:47 p.m. July 17, after Kaliloa’s shooting, to 2:45 p.m. Friday, when police fatally shot him.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective William Brown at 961-2384 or email him at william.brown@hawaiicounty.gov.
Tina sustained gunshot wounds to his right torso, right arm and right hand. He was taken to a hospital where he was treated and released Sunday night.
Two weeks ago police had arrested Jason in a drug raid at a Waimea house. She was released pending further investigation.
Correction: An earlier version of this story and in Wednesday’s print edition gave an incorrect first name for Sgt. Bryan Tina.