Police capture suspect in Ala Moana drive-by shooting
By Curtis Lum
Advertiser Staff Writer
A 30-year-old man wanted in connection with a drive-by shooting and possibly an armed robbery was arrested last night in Kalihi.
Arthur Birano was captured shortly before 9 p.m. after police received a tip that he was visiting a relative in the area of Houghtailing and School streets.
Arthur Birano was wanted for not meeting parole rules.
Dozens of police officers, including the Specialized Services Division, arrived at the house, but Birano managed to flee.
Police said Birano jumped into a canal along Houghtailing Street and ran west. Then he got out of the canal and continued to run.
Police finally caught up with him near a house along a narrow lane off Houghtailing. He was not armed when he was arrested, but police said they recovered a waist pack believed to belong to Birano that contained a gun.
Birano was wanted for failing to comply with terms of his parole. He had been convicted of first-degree burglary and robbery.
Police also wanted to question him in connection with a May 8 shooting in which a gunman fired shots from a stolen car outside an Ala Moana nightclub and KHON-TV station.
That incident began when a man drove to Venus Nite Club on Kapi'olani Boulevard, yelled and fired a shot into the air. The man then drove past KHON on Pi'ikoi and fired several shots into the air.
The man drove off, but crashed the car into a light pole on Kapi'olani. He then fled on foot.
Earlier yesterday, police staked out the Pagoda Hotel where they believed Birano was heading. But he did not show up and police called off the stakeout shortly after 6 p.m.
