"No not at all, nothing," he says. "They would come and go then we wouldn’t see them for 2-3 days at a time."
Even more surprising, is that the man accused of conspiring to possess and distribute the marijuana plants is Michael Chu an HPD officer with 13 years on the force and assigned to District 2 in Wahiawa.
The same District Autele retired from as an HPD Sgt in 1999 after over 30 years on the force.
"It’s sad that it had to happen, anytime a police officer gets in trouble it’s sad," says Autele.
He says none of the neighbors had any idea what was happening. But many did notice that a light on the second floor was on around the clock.
"During the night time you would know that light was on, but we didn’t now we didn’t smell anything," says Autele.
On Saturday, federal agents searched Officer Chu’s rented home on Puneki street, and found in the master bedroom, an indoor growing operation with 10 to 20 marijuana plants.
This find was the latest in a string of troubles for Chu that began earlier in the week.
According to court documents a Fed-Ex security manager intercepted a suspicious package being mailed from California with eight juvenile marijuana plants inside, addressed to an apartment at the Moana Pacific on Kapiolani Boulevard.
Agents searched the apartment on Friday, and found more than 20 plants inside along with a large amount of cash.
While agents were there, Chu arrived, along with the woman who lives there, identified as Athena Lee.
Chu was carrying a bag with nutrients and materials used to grow the plants.
"It’s hard to believe, something like that could be happening right next to you. It’s hard to believe," says Moana Pacific resident Mary Grebenc.
Officer Chu’s police-subsidized vehicle was also searched and agents found another pound of marijuana.
Both Chu and Lee were arrested. At the time of his arrest, court records show Chu told agents that he had a medical marijuana card.
"Now to disclose the use of a medicinal marijuana card, the question becomes when do you disclose you have a medicinal marijuana permit, we as police officers owe it to the people of Hawaii, we owe it to the Department to disclose that early on," says Tenari Ma’afala, SHOPO President.
A Department spokeswoman could not say if police were aware Chu had a medical marijuana card.
Honolulu Police Chief Louis Kealoha said in a statement: "Using marijuana is a violation of HPD policy. A medical marijuana permit does not exempt an officer from drug testing, and an officer who tests positive is in violation whether or not, she or he has a permit."
"We’ve said it all along, I’m sure the Department feels the same way, we don’t condone criminal activities," says Ma’afala.
The Honolulu Police Department is working with the DEA and has also opened its own internal investigation.
Officer Chu remains in federal custody, his police powers have been removed and he’s been placed on leave without pay.
Chu and Lee will be in court Wednesday for their bail hearings.
Authorities believe they are flight risks and they’ll ask they be held without bail.
See the original article at: KHON2 Local News
