2-20-24 Police Arrest and Charge Smoke Shop Owner with Drug Offenses
Hawai‘i Police Department
Area I Vice Section
Acting Lieutenant Kelly Moniz
Phone: (808) 961-2259
Report No.: 23-096049
Media Release
Hawai‘i Island police, in partnership with the State Narcotics Enforcement Division, have arrested and charged a 35-year-old Hilo man with various drug-related offenses.
At 2:00 p.m. on Thursday afternoon, February 15, 2024, Area I Vice Section officers, along with agents from State Narcotics Enforcement Division, served a search warrant at a retail smoke shop in downtown Hilo. As a result of the search warrant, the part owner / manager of the business, Karl Edward Stasik, was arrested.
The search warrant and arrest were the result of an anonymous tip to police which sparked a months long investigation into the smoke shop and resulted in multiple controlled purchases of illegal marijuana products from the business.
Upon serving the warrant at the retail establishment, officers recovered 362 grams of dried processed marijuana, 1,109 grams of marijuana concentrate, and a small amount of cocaine.
On Friday, February 16, after conferral with the County Prosecutor’s Office, Stasik was charged with the following offenses:
- Four counts of first-degree promotion of a harmful drug
- Two counts of second-degree promotion of a harmful drug
- Five counts of first-degree promotion of a detrimental drug
- Second-degree promotion of a detrimental drug
- Four counts of promoting a controlled substance on or near a public park
- Third-degree promotion of a dangerous drug
Stasik’s bail was set at $271,000, and he made his initial court appearance Tuesday afternoon, February 20, in Hilo District Court.
Police ask anyone who may have information regarding this incident to contact Officer Scotty Aloy of the Area I Vice Section at (808) 961-2207, or via email at scotty.aloy@hawaiicounty.gov.
The Hawai‘i Police Department is committed to working cooperatively with the community to improve the quality of life of island residents, and provide a safer environment for everyone. Police encourage residents to report suspicious and illegal activity to the police department’s non-emergency number at (808) 935-3311.
