FEDS DECLARE WAR ON 'ICE,' GUNS, CAREER CRIMINALS

HONOLULU (AP)- Federal prosecutors in Hawaii sounded their battle cry
against repeat criminals Thursday, nine days after the killing of a Honolulu
police officer.

''We are declaring war on methamphetamine, 'ice,' and we are declaring war
on illegal gun possession,'' U.S. Attorney Edward Kubo Jr. said. ''And we
are also going to attack the problem by removing habitual offenders off our
streets.

''As long as I am the U.S. attorney for Hawaii, it will be my determined
mission to reduce gun crimes and drug trafficking,'' he said.

Authorities announced the arrest of Michael Anglin, 32, who allegedly had an
illegal handgun and thousands of dollars worth of drugs.

''This case brings together all of my concerns about a disturbing trend I
see in Hawaii today,'' Kubo said.

The case involved drugs, illegal firearm possession, ''an emotional
confrontation,'' and a habitual offender, he said.

Anglin, who has 43 prior arrests, was apprehended Sunday after he allegedly
brandished a handgun at several youths outside a Zippy's restaurant in
Honolulu. He even cocked the silver-colored .45-caliber pistol during the
incident, officials said.

When Anglin was approached by a police officer, he threw the gun into his
luxury car, where a small amount of cocaine, 108 grams of crystal
methamphetamine, a drug scale and $2,300 in cash were found, Kubo said. The
ice had a street value of $32,400.

Anglin, who has done time on Oahu and Maui, was charged Monday with
possession of drugs with the intent to distribute. He also faces firearms
charges.

He will be federally prosecuted under the Project Safe Neighborhoods Hawaii
Program, which was a presidential initiative to reduce gun violence in the
United States.

More than 60 suspects have been federally charged and convicted for illegal
gun violations across the state, which is a 300 percent increase from
previous years, Kubo said.

''Drug trafficking and gun crimes are the two most dangerous threats to the
safety of our citizens in Hawaii, and our concern is justifiably heightened
when those committing such offenses are habitual offenders,'' Kubo said.
''Clearly, with the increase of these crimes, not even police officers are
safe in Hawaii today.''

Calls for tougher laws against career criminals were renewed following the
death of Officer Glen Gaspar, who was killed in a shooting at a Kapolei ice
cream parlor March 4.

The man charged with first-degree murder in Gaspar's slaying, 28-year-old
Shane Mark, had 14 prior convictions including four felonies. He was
released from prison in November.

Anglin, however, was not a repeat felon; his prior convictions were
misdemeanors.

''Just because a person has been arrested of various crimes that resulted in
misdemeanor convictions, that does not mean Hawaii is safe,'' Kubo said.

''When you're dealing with a person who has been arrested 43 times, even if
it results in misdemeanor convictions, one has to wonder from a common sense
standpoint, what's going on here?

''Something is wrong with the state system and we have to start stepping up
to the plate in order to cover and protect not only the law enforcement
community, but the citizens as best as we can from all angles.''