Police charged Vernon D.K. Johnson Jr. with three counts of kidnapping, auto theft, first-degree burglary and other related misdemeanor offenses. His bail was set at $170,000.

Johnson was arrested Tuesday night after police said he fled from a stolen car, broke into a Tantalus home and held the homeowners hostage. The 80-year-old man and his 70-year-old wife were not injured.

Johnson was on probation for two felony theft convictions in March, according to state documents.

The Hawai'i Criminal Justice Data Center shows that Johnson was twice convicted of second- degree theft in March and was convicted of third-degree assault in August 2000.

Dead motorcyclist identified as visitor

The 55-year-old motorcyclist fatally injured Thursday in a weather-related crash on Maui has been identified as Vincent Jim Salerno Jr. of Santa Rosa, Calif..

The crash occurred in the Wailuku direction of Honoapi'ilani Highway, just south of Ma'alaea Bay Place, at about 2:45 p.m. when a gust caused Salerno to lose control of his new orange Harley Davidson, police said. The motorcycle struck a guardrail and Salerno was thrown over it, landing below the highway.

Salerno died at Maui Memorial Medical Center. It was unknown whether wore a helmet at the time of the accident.

It was Maui's 26th traffic fatality this year compared with 24 fatalities at the same time last year.

Police seeking Kahala bank robber

Police are searching for a man who robbed the Kahala branch of Central Pacific Bank on Thursday afternoon.

A man walked into the bank inside Times Super Market on 21st Avenue at 3:30 p.m. and handed the teller a paper bag with a handwritten note attached.

The note demanded money and said that the man had a weapon. After taking the money, the man walked out.

Police described him as 5 feet 10, 140 pounds, 35 to 45 years old, with dark hair and a short dark beard. He wore a green baseball cap, a dark green sweater, light-colored shorts and sunglasses.

Baby boy's injuries called suspicious

A 2-month-old boy was upgraded to fair condition yesterday after being admitted Thursday at the Kapi'olani Medical Center for Women and Children with what police called suspicious injuries.

According to police, the boy was having convulsions at 7:30 Thursday night at his Alta Street home. His 24-year-old mother took the boy to the Wai'anae Coast Comprehensive Health Center and the boy was later taken to Kapi'olani, where he was admitted in critical condition.

Police said a doctor told them the boy had a fractured skull and brain damage. Police notified Child Protective Services and opened a first-degree assault case.

The mother is not a suspect at this time, police said.

Arson is blamed for horses' deaths

A fire that destroyed a stable and killed two horses Nov. 27 in Maunawili was intentionally set, according to a fire official.

An arsonist used flammable fluids to set the blaze at the stable, said Honolulu Fire Department spokesman Capt. Kenison Tejada.

The blaze was reported just before 11 p.m. at 1015 Auloa Road. The fire was extinguished at 12:10 a.m. Losses were estimated at $60,000 for the stable and $45,000 for the horses and other contents.

Candle caused Papakolea fire

An unattended candle started a fire Thursday morning that caused an estimated $15,000 in damage to a shack in Papakolea, a fire official said.

Six fire companies responded to the 5:37 a.m. alarm at 417 Hi'ilani St. and had the blaze under control at 5:55 a.m., said Capt. Kenison Tejada, Honolulu Fire Department spokesman.