Police Beat
Advertiser Staff
Traffic victim was from Hau'ula
The victim in a Kane'ohe pedestrian accident Sunday has been identified as William Kaopio, 73, of Hau'ula.
Kaopio was killed when he was hit by a van at the intersection of Kamehameha Highway and Kea'ahala Road. Police are investigating the cause of the accident.
Police seek man for questioning
Police yesterday were searching for a 25-year-old man for questioning in the fatal shooting of Shane Takeuchi, 24, Sunday in Waipahu.
Police want to talk to Ryan Naleimaile about a fatal shooting Sunday in Waipahu.
Police want to talk to Ryan Naleimaile about the shooting, which took place at about 8:45 p.m. on Lumihoahu Street.
CrimeStoppers will also pay a reward for the recovery of the weapon used in the shooting.
Naleimaile is described as 6 feet 2, 175 pounds, with a medium build, brown hair and brown eyes.
Anyone with information about theshooting or Naleimaile's whereabouts should call CrimeStoppers at 955-8300.
Drug investigation nets 47 arrests
KEALAKEHE, Hawai'i — Big Island police yesterday reported that an undercover investigation conducted with the help of the federal Drug Enforcement Administration resulted in the arrests of 47 people over the course of the 2 1/2-month operation.
The investigation was begun Sept. 5 by Kona Vice Section officers and 11 agents from the DEA Mobile Enforcement Team from Los Angeles, said Lt. Robert Hickcox of the Hawai'i County Police Department. The operation focused on the illegal distribution of crystal methamphetamine, cocaine and heroin in West Hawai'i, particularly in the Kona area.
Hickcox said police seized 288 grams of crystal methamphetamine, 104 grams of cocaine, 2 grams of heroin, 186 grams of marijuana, 12 vehicles, $6,477 in cash and two firearms.
Three of the defendants arrested in the investigation have been charged with federal drug offenses. The other cases are being forwarded to the Hawai'i County prosecutor's office.
Fire damages Department of Health
Firefighters last night extinguished a small fire that damaged a kitchen area at the state Department of Health on Punchbowl Street.
Eight fire companies responded to the two-alarm fire at 1250 Punchbowl St. at 8:12 p.m. and had the fire under control at 8:42 p.m., according to Fire Department Capt. Richard Soo.
The fire started on the fifth floor of the building, near the vending machines, Soo said. No one was believed to be on the floor at the time. The cause was under investigation, Soo said.
Police closed a section of Punchbowl Street and shut down a few lanes of Beretania Street for the fire engines.
