MEDIA RELEASE

Chad Cunningham

Big Island police have charged a 42-year-old Kona man with meth trafficking and other offenses, including reckless endangering.

The reckless endangering charge stemmed from an attempted traffic stop January 31 on Aliʻi Drive in Kailua-Kona. The driver, Chad Cunningham of Kailua-Kona, fled from officers and passed a stopped school bus that was dropping off passengers.

On Wednesday (February 8), Cunningham ran from officers who attempted to contact him as he left an Aliʻi Drive apartment complex. Following a foot pursuit, officers arrested him for reckless endangering and took him to the Kona police cellblock pending further investigation. After obtaining a search warrant for his bag, police found 13.4 grams of crystal methamphetamine in 14 resealable plastic bags, paraphernalia associated with drug distribution and an electric stun gun.

On Thursday (February 9), officers from the Vice Section charged Cunningham with meth trafficking, promoting a dangerous drug, possession of an illegal stun gun, reckless endangering, driving without a license, resisting arrest, and two counts of possessing drug paraphernalia.

He remained in the cellblock in lieu of $116,500 until his initial court appearance Friday morning (February 10).