Police Beat
Advertiser Staff
Man's body found in Wai'anae park
Police are seeking information about a body found at Wai'anae District Park yesterday by an early-morning jogger.
The dead man, who looked to be in his early to mid-30s, had suffered head and facial injuries and was discovered on the basketball court, police said. He carried no identification. Officers believe that he visited the area regularly.
Police believe that the man was attacked sometime between midnight and 6:30 a.m. Anyone with information is asked to call CrimeStoppers at 955-8300.
When found, the victim was unclothed from the waist down, and a flashlight lay nearby. It was unclear whether the flashlight was used as a weapon.
Police are analyzing bloody footprints found near the body. An autopsy will be conducted early this week.
Repair parts for copter on way
Air Rescue 1, the Honolulu Fire Department helicopter that was grounded Friday after losing part of its landing gear, could be flying again by the end of the week.
Fire Capt. Richard Soo said Roto-Wing, the company that services Air Rescue 1, has ordered parts that will reconnect the gear to the aircraft.
Air Rescue 1 lost a gear while trying to land during a rescue mission to La'ie. The pilot quickly gained altitude, flew to the Honolulu airport and hovered just above the ground while mechanics placed jacks underneath for the helicopter to touch down.
Soo said Air Rescue 1 is the department's only helicopter, but military helicopters and pilots are made available for searches and rescues when Air Rescue 1 is out of service. The fire department's budget includes money to buy a secondhand helicopter to serve as a backup for Air Rescue 1 within the next year.
17 escape injury in shuttle bus fire
Seventeen people escaped injury Friday when a shuttle bus caught fire on the H-1 Freeway.
Fire Capt. Richard Soo said the entire bus was in flames when firefighters arrived on the scene.
The driver of the VIP Transportation bus noticed smoke coming from the dashboard as the bus was heading eastbound on H-1. The passengers evacuated the bus after driver stopped along the shoulder lane past the airport offramp.
There were no injuries. Soo said the cause of the fire was not known.
