Police officer cleared of sexual assault allegations

Advertiser Staff

A Honolulu police officer arrested for investigation of sexual assault in October has been cleared by city prosecutors, who said they dropped the case because of insufficient evidence.

Prosecutors made their decision to drop the case against officer Chad K. Tokunaga last month, an official at the city prosecutor's office said.

Police arrested Tokunaga on Oct. 14, 2000, on investigation of first-degree sex assault and two counts of fourth-degree sex assault. He was later released and never charged with the offenses.

Tokunaga, who has been with the police force for five years and works in downtown Honolulu, was off duty when an acquaintance alleged that he attacked her, police said.

In May 1999, Tokunaga was awarded a certificate of merit by Police Chief Lee Donohue for risking injury to enter a burning building on Christmas 1998 after neighbors said a woman was inside. The woman was later found safe outside the building.