Honolulu firefighters were sent to clean up spilled mercury at 8:29 a.m. today. Hazmat 1 and an engine from the Kaimuki fire station rushed to a home in the 3500 block of Harding Avenue.

Turns out, it was only a broken thermometer.

Couple nabbed after theft from car

A man and a woman who stole property from a parked car made arrangements to sell the items back to the man who owned them, and then were arrested yesterday by police officers waiting at the appointed place.

The suspects, a 55-year-old man and a 45-year-old woman, took the items from a car parked at McCully Shopping Center on Thursday. They called the victim and met with him at a bar Friday.

The suspects arranged to meet with him yesterday and return the remaining items, in exchange for $300. The victim notified police before meeting with the suspects, who were arrested upon producing the stolen goods.

Union 76 robbery suspect sought

A Caucasian man in his 20s is being sought in connection with a robbery that occurred late last night in the Union 76 convenience store at 1406 S. Beretania St.

The man, described as 6 feet tall with dirty blond hair and a fair complexion, approached the cashier at 11:38 p.m., brandished a knife and demanded money.

The suspect fled on foot. He was wearing a white and light-blue T-shirt and khaki pants with a dark stripe down the side.

Ward Shell station robbed

A Shell service station at 520 Ward Ave. was robbed yesterday by a Caucasian male with a knife.

Police said the suspect, in his late 20s or early 30s, showed the knife from the male clerk and demanded money. The employee, 19, pulled the register tray and set it on the counter.

The robber then removed cash and fled onto Kawaiaha'o Street.

The suspect is described as 6 feet or 6-foot-1, 180-200 pounds, with a fair complexion and a facial scar extending from his upper to lower lip.

CENTRAL

Two women fight over alleged debt

A fight between two women disputing an alleged debt ended last night in Waipahu when one pulled off the other's gold chains and hit her over the head with a ceramic pot.

Shortly after 11 p.m., the suspect, 49, confronted a woman, 46, at her Hanawai Circle home and told her to pay the money she owed. The younger woman refused to pay any money, and the suspect attacked, tearing two gold chains from her neck and striking her with the pot.

She fled the scene but was later arrested.

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS

Puna accident ends in man's death

A Big Island man was killed late last night after he lost control of his car and struck a utility pole in Puna.

Police, called at 11:24 p.m., said the man was driving a light blue 1988 Plymouth Reliant on Pohoiki Road, near the junction with Route 132. The sedan reportedly went out of control, ran off the left side of the road and struck a pole.

The driver, who was not wearing a seat belt, was thrown from the vehicle. Police said he died at the scene, but he was pronounced dead at Hilo Medical Center at 2:23 this morning.

He was carrying no identification.

Puna drowning victim identified

The 48-year-old man who drowned yesterday off the Puna shoreline has been identified as Danny Joe Carmack, of Pahoa, Hawai'i.

Puna police patrol officers were called at 3:42 p.m. to the scene, the waters off Kehena Beach, near Kalapana. Witnesses told them that Carmack had been swimming when he was struck by a large wave and thrown against the rocks.