Police Beat
Advertiser Staff
Candle causes fire at Seaview home
Two brothers escaped injury yesterday when a fire broke out on their townhouse lanai in Seaview and caused an estimated $125,000 in damage, a fire spokesman said.
Firefighters responded to the 6:24 a.m. alarm at 94-610 Lumiaina St., unit 203, and had the fire under control within minutes, said Honolulu Fire Department spokesman Capt. Richard Soo.
The brothers, ages 24 and 21, fled the home. The fire caused an estimated $100,000 damage to the structure and $25,000 to contents.
The fire started from an unattended candle on the lanai. The Red Cross was assisting the displaced renters, Soo said.
Teen upgraded to fair condition
A 19-year-old Wai'anae man was upgraded to fair condition last night at the Queen's Medical Center yesterday after an accident near Kea'au Beach Park in Wai'anae Tuesday night, police said.
He was one of four people in a white 1989 Ford Taurus traveling on Farrington Highway toward Makaha near Lawaia Street just before 7:19 p.m.
Police say the car lost control, veered toward the makai shoulder and flipped off the embankment. The victim, in the front passenger seat, was ejected. He suffered liver and head injuries and was airlifted to Queen's in critical condition. He was not wearing a seat belt.
The two rear-seat passengers, a 19-year-old Wai'anae man and another passenger who left the scene, refused treatment. The driver, an 18-year-old Wai'anae man, suffered abrasions on his head and was treated at the Wai'anae Coast Comprehensive Health Center.
Police said speed and alcohol may have been factors in the accident.
Fugitive arrested in phone harassment
Police arrested a fugitive who was wanted for questioning in new cases of telephone harassment of high school students.
Pearl City police arrested Gary C. Santos, 31, Tuesday in Waipi'o after receiving a number of CrimeStoppers tips about his whereabouts.
A contempt warrant was issued for Santos, 31, on March 22 for failing to appear at trial on at least five cases of harassment.
Santos, who has 19 previous convictions for harassment, was wanted for questioning in new cases in which teens interested in bodybuilding were phoned with information about body-massage oils and continued to be called even after they declined further contact.
Fatal shooting victim identified
The 46-year-old self-employed contractor found fatally shot in his Salt Lake home Friday has been identified as Darryl Lee.
The city's medical examiner said Lee died of multiple internal injuries from a gunshot wound to the chest and abdomen.
His decomposing body was found at his 3045 Kahikolu Way home. Police have opened a murder investigation. No weapon was found at the scene, and evidence showed signs of a struggle, police said. The house had been searched and items were missing.
Police did not disclose a possible motive in the case and said they were still gathering information.
They said the man's father went to the house Friday and discovered the body. Lee, whose company Special Additions made building improvements, lived alone in the one-story home. Neighbors reported last seeing him walking around on April 26 or 27, police said.
