DRUG TRIAL OF HPD OFFICER POSTPONED

One of two Honolulu police officers arrested Aug. 15 on suspicion of
smoking marijuana in a van at a city park in Las Vegas was granted a
second continuance in the case last week and is scheduled to go to
trial on the charge Jan. 28.

Court officials in Las Vegas said officer Shayne Souza was granted the
continuance for further negotiations in the case.

Souza had been scheduled to go to trial on the charge Nov. 18, but was
granted a continuance until Dec. 16. On that date, a second
continuance was granted, this one until Jan. 28.

Souza and a second Ho-no-lulu police officer, Kevin Fujioka, were
off-duty and in Las Vegas to participate in a softball tournament when
they were arrested. Fujioka is due to be arraigned tomorrow in Las
Vegas Justice Court.

A trial is also scheduled for Feb. 9 for Scott Wilson, who has been
described as a Honolulu social worker.

Souza, 47, Fujioka, 37, and Wilson, 38, were arrested near Desert
Breeze Park in Las Vegas after police officers noticed a white van
parked across several parking stalls and investigated. All three men
were charged with possession of less than an ounce of marijuana.

Souza was also charged with obstructing a public officer for allegedly
running away after being told to stand in front of the van in which he
and the other two men were found.

Fujioka was also charged with driving under the influence of a
narcotic, a felony.

Souza and Fujioka have been stripped of their police powers and put on
administrative leave without pay pending the outcome of an internal
HPD investigation.

Souza is a 20-year veteran of the department, and Fujioka has been
with HPD for 13 years.