Police Beat
Advertiser Staff
Four armed men rob pool hall
Four masked men armed with shotguns raided a Chinatown pool hall yesterday, stealing money and blasting a shot inside the building before running away.
The robbery happened at 2 a.m. at Bida Hi Hi Cue, 150 N. King St., police said.
The second-floor pool hall is across from the Oahu Market and about a block away from the Chinatown police station.
According to police, four men, each holding a shotgun and wearing a dark ski mask, dark jacket and dark pants, entered the pool hall and ordered everyone to the floor.
The robbers then forced a machine vendor to open the video gaming machines and stole money from him. They also searched an office.
Just before the robbers sped away in a car, one fired a shot into the ceiling.
Police would not say how much money was taken.
Audrey Chow, manager at the Yat Tung Chow Noodle Factory, which is below the pool hall, said she hoped police would increase their presence on the street.
She said the noodle factory had been burglarized in February and March. "There's not much to steal except for flour," she said.
Mugging victim beaten, stabbed
A 37-year-old man suffered scrapes and a nonfatal stab wound to his throat after he was mugged in Chinatown Thursday night, police said.
According to police, the robbery occurred at about 8:15 p.m. at the intersection of River and North King streets. The victim met police at the Dillingham Burger King and told them he had been robbed at knife-point. The victim said the robber punched and stabbed him in the throat.
The robber fled the area with the victim's watch, police said. The injured man was taken to Queen's Medical Center with cuts and abrasions to his arms and legs and a throat wound.
Second suspect held in robbery
A second man suspected in a robbery in which three intruders broke into an Ala Moana apartment and robbed a 28-year-old man on April 19 has been arrested, police said.
Police arrested the 21-year-old Waikiki man at his residence yesterday on suspicion of first-degree robbery and first-degree burglary.
Earlier, police charged Herbert French, 38, with first-degree robbery and first-degree burglary in connection with the case. His bail was set at $50,000.
According to police, three robbers broke through a hotel door at 1700 Ala Moana, and demanded money from the victim. The robbers beat the man, threatened him with a knife and took his wallet. Police said French was found within an hour of the robbery and arrested.
The second man was identified through an investigation and arrested, police said. The third man is still at large, police said.
Teen allegedly threatened carrier
Police have arrested an 18-year-old Waimalu man after he allegedly got into a confrontation with a newspaper carrier and threatened him with a crowbar Thursday in Waimalu.
According to police, the incident happened at the corner of Ualo Place and Kaonohi Street at about 3 p.m. as the 31-year-old newspaper carrier was delivering newspapers to the area.
The assailant got into a "staring match" with the carrier, followed him up the street, confronted him with a crowbar and took a swing at him. The assailant was scared off when the carrier's wife threatened to call police. The man was arrested on suspicion of first-degree terroristic threatening a short time after the incident.
Police honor top worker, section
The Honolulu Police Department announced that Leona Yuen is the department's Employee of the Quarter and the Records and Identification Division's Record Section is the Unit of the Quarter.
The recipients were honored in an award ceremony at the Honolulu Police Department's main headquarters on South Beretania Street.
Charles Funk and officers Wendell Higa, James Chong and Richard Yamashita were presented Certificates of Merit by acting chief Michael Carvalho.
In addition, Thomas Kelly of the Drug Enforcement Administration's Honolulu District Office presented letters of appreciation to Sgt. Michael Rehfeldt and officers Aaron Amimoto, James "Kimo" Smith and Derek Segawa.
