Posted at 10:45 a.m., Tuesday, May 15, 2001

Judge reduces bail for Arakawa

By Rod Ohira
Advertiser Staff Writer

A Circuit Court judge today reduced bail for former Honolulu police officer Clyde Arakawa from $100,000 to $75,000.

Arakawa is charged with manslaughter in the Oct. 7 collision on Pali Highway that killed 19-year-old Dana Ambrose.

Arakawa's attorneys were confident they could post the $75,000 bail, which means the retired Honolulu police officer will be returning to Lincoln City on the Oregon coast until the start of his manslaughter trial July 16 in Honolulu.

Circuit Judge Karen Ahn reduced Arakawa's bail over the objections of Deputy Prosecutor Jean Ireton, standing in for Honolulu Prosecuting Attorney Peter Carlisle who is out of town.

"I think the judge made the right decision," said Michael Ostendorp, Arakawa's attorney. "Hopefully, we'll have the $75,000 by lunch."

Ostendorp told the court that Arakawa has no collateral but could post $50,000 cash bail if the amount were reduced. "We do have $50,000 and can post it today," Ostendorp said.

In addressing the flight-risk concerns of prosecutors, Ostendorp noted Arakawa has received support from hundreds of people, some of whom he does not know, and "has no reason not to return."

Ahn imposed several standard conditions of release, including random testing within four hours of notification for substance abuse, signing a waiver for extradition and prohibiting him from possessing a firearm or ammunition.

The four-hour time frame for testing was granted since Arakawa is prohibited from operating any motorized vehicle and Lincoln City is more than an hour's drive away from Salem.