Hawai‘i Island police arrested and charged 35-year-old Joshua Ikaika Vierra of Volcano and a 17-year-old male juvenile for kidnapping stemming from a June 8 incident that occurred at a Volcano residence.  Vierra was also charged with impersonating a police officer, assault, and a number of firearms offenses.
 
The two males conspired to assault the juvenile’s 44-year-old biological father who currently resides on Oʻahu. Upon his arrival, the father was confronted by Vierra who identified himself as a federal agent and placed zip ties on his wrist and ankles. 
 
Over the course of several hours, the suspects assaulted the victim who was able to reach his cellphone and dial 911 during a break in activity. 
 
When officers arrived at the scene they found the victim bound and gagged.  They arrested Vierra and the juvenile without incident. The victim was transported to Hilo Medical Center for treatment and was later released to police custody and arrested for outstanding warrants. 
 
In the course of the investigation, detectives from the Area I Criminal Investigation Division executed a search warrant on the residence and recovered a silencer, two handguns, and a rifle, all with no serial numbers, which are known as “ghost guns”.
 
After conferring with the Hawaiʻi County County Prosecutor’s office, Vierra was charged with:

• kidnapping
• two counts of assault in the second degree
• impersonating a law enforcement officer
• terroristic threatening in the first degree
• use of a firearm in the commission of a separate felony
• three counts of permit to acquire
• three counts of assembling a firearm having no serial numbers
• possessing a rifle with a barrel length less than 16 inches
• possessing a silencer devise capable of muffling the sound of a firearm discharge
• six counts of possessing handgun magazines capable of holding a capacity of more than 10 rounds of ammunition
• possessing brass knuckles
• promotion of a dangerous drug in the third degree

Vierra’s bail is set at $270,765. He remains in police custody pending his initial court appearance on Monday, June 13 in Hilo District Court.
 
The male juvenile, whose name will not be published due to his age, was charged with kidnapping and abuse of a family household member. He is being detained by the State in a juvenile detention facility on Oʻahu.

HPD Photo