Suspect sought in taxicab holdup

Police today were searching for a man who robbed a taxi driver at gunpoint Monday morning in the Salt Lake area.

The robbery occurred at about 7:30 a.m. after a man called the taxi company and requested a pickup at the Makiki Times Super Market on Beretania Street.

He called himself “Mike” and asked to be let off in the 4300 block of Likini Street in Salt Lake. As the cab approached Keaka Drive, the man pointed a handgun at the driver and yelled at her to turn onto the street.

He stole the driver’s money and car keys and fled on Likini Street in the kokohead direction.

The robber was described as in his 20s, 5-feet-6 or slightly taller, 140 pounds, with straight, dirty blond short hair and brown eyes.

He was wearing a beige short-sleeve t-shirt with khaki pants and work shoes and carrying a dark-colored back pack.

Anyone with information is asked to call CrimeStoppers at 955-8300.

Man arrested in assault on friend

Police have arrested a man after he allegedly choked and kidnapped a woman friend in Ala Moana yesterday morning.

Police said the pair got into an argument in a Kapi‘olani Boulevard parking lot at about 5 a.m., the man grabbed the woman by the arm, forced her into his car and assaulted her.

They said one of the woman’s friends saw the man choking her and helped her escape. Police later arrested the man on suspicion of kidnapping.

Fire recruits begin training

The Honolulu Fire Department’s 84th recruit class began its training this week, to graduate on June 28, the department announced.

The class consists of 66 men and four firefighters from the state’s Department of Transportation Airports Division.

They are required to complete 16 weeks of training, which includes fire operations and procedures, hose evolutions, ladder drills, forcible entry, salvage, emergency medical care, rescue procedures, operation of fire apparatus and advanced lifesaving and water safety.

All recruits must pass a one-year probationary period before becoming a regular member of the Honolulu Fire Department.

It is currently the nation’s 12th-largest metropolitan fire department, with an annual budget of $55.5 million, authorized manpower of 1,136 positions to protect an area of 604 square miles on O‘ahu with 42 fire stations.