Michael De Carlo says he’s received threats and someone rammed their vehicle into his business twice this week including an incident Thursday morning. On February 26, Honolulu Police removed several gambling machines from a building on Kawaiahao Street in Kakaako. The machines were in an illegal game room that had set up shop at Michael De Carlo’s auto detailing business.
"They built this wall here and they did some cockroach electrical," said De Carlo.
De Carlo had rented the space for $1,500 to a man who said he was going to use the room for a tele-marketing business.
"This was all covered," said De Carlo. "Not even a week. It was real quick."
De Carlo said he was skeptical and the night before the games were confiscated, made an unannounced visit and found 20 people gambling.
"And when I opened up this door, I was like whoa!" said De Carlo.
He said he ordered everyone out but was attacked by a man so he left.
"This is what the guy kicked my car that night – that attacked me," said De Carlo.
A day later firefighters responded to a call of a hazardous condition at the building and found the machines, and called police.
"There’s the maroon from the car that hit it," said De Carlo.
According to De Carlo that’s when the threats started. On March 4 things intensified when a dark colored SUV rammed into the sliding door of his business. Surveillance video shows the driver throw the SUV in reverse and then ram it again before driving off.
"This was all pushed all the way and then there was a gap about that much where they could have went inside," said De Carlo.
De Carlo says someone returned Thursday.
"This morning I come to work and they’d done it again," said De Carlo.
De Carlo has filed police reports. He says business is down nearly 70 percent and several workers have quit out of fear. He understands why.
"I got people driving by making gestures, people driving me off the road," said De Carlo. "I’m a afraid of course who wouldn’t be but supposedly these are some heavy hitters. I’m just trying to make an honest buck."
Police continue to investigate. De Carlo says he may soon close his doors in Kakaako and turn to running a mobile business.
See the original article at: KHON2 Local News
