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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Thursday, May 20, 2010

Police officer pleads not guilty to having meth pipe

Advertiser Staff

A Maui police officer pleaded not guilty Tuesday to charges alleging he possessed a smoking pipe containing methamphetamine residue that was recovered as part of a police search earlier this year, the Maui News reported.

A July 2 trial is scheduled in 2nd Circuit Court for Ryan Masada, 39, of Makawao.

Masada, who was represented by attorney Michael Green during his arraignment, was ordered to not possess guns or ammunition.

Judge Shackley Raffetto also ordered Masada not to consume alcohol, illegal drugs or possess drug paraphernalia. Masada is charged with third-degree promotion of a dangerous drug and possessing drug paraphernalia.

Masada, who posted a $10,000 bond for his release following his arrest on the charges filed May 3, is a 17-year police veteran. He had been working as a Wailuku patrol officer but has been reassigned to administrative duties, the department said.

According to felony information charging documents filed in court, police Criminal Investigation Division detectives recovered the pipe after serving search warrants for the lockers of three officers, including Masada, on Feb. 10 at the Wailuku Police Station.

The officers were among those who had responded to a Feb. 3 burglary of a Ha'ikū house where police recovered hashish and marijuana. One resident later reported that $1,960 was missing from his room after police searched it.