Police Beat
Advertiser Staff
Five indicted on murder charges
Five men were indicted by an O'ahu grand jury yesterday on charges of murder and attempted murder in connection with a Nov. 16 brawl on Bannister Street in Kalihi that erupted after an argument over a cockfight.
Leon R. Fernandez, 39, of Kane'ohe, died Nov. 18 at The Queen's Medical Center. The other victim, 41, initially was reported to be in guarded condition.
Prosecutors believe Fernandez intervened in the beating of the other man only to be beaten himself.
Charged with one count each of second-degree murder and attempted second degree murder were Evan Kakugawa, Jason Yoshimura, Branden Kakugawa, Don Cabinian and Lamaar Richardson, who also goes by the name Lamaar Silva.
Bail for the five men was continued at $500,000. City Deputy Prosecutor Sharlene Tom said Richardson, Yoshimura and Evan Kakugawa posted bail in the case, while Branden Kakugawa and Cabinian remain in custody at O'ahu Community Correctional Center.
Woman accused of hitting girl with car
A 30-year-old woman driver was arrested Monday on suspicion of critically injuring a 3-year-old girl on Sunday in a Palama neighborhood, apparently by running into the child as she was playing.
The girl remained in critical condition yesterday at The Queen's Medical Center.
The driver of the car that hit the girl left the scene, and police said the driver may not have realized the girl was hit. The suspect, a Kalihi resident, was arrested for failure to render aid.
The accident occurred about 2:45 p.m on Pua Lane, between Vineyard Boulevard and Kanoa Street. The girl was playing near 1211 Pua Lane when she wandered off and was later found lying injured on the side of the road.
A CrimeStoppers bulletin was issued Monday to find witnesses in the area. This led to the description of a light blue 1982 Subaru, which was found about 7:20 p.m. Monday in the Kamehameha IV Road and Rose Street area.
An inspection of the car produced information identifying the suspect, who then was arrested, said James Addison, detective in the vehicular homicide section of the police department.
Kalama Valley home ransacked
Undeterred by the stormy weather, a masked robber armed with a shotgun broke into a Kalama Valley residence early yesterday, bound the three family members with duct tape and ransacked the home.
The robber was described as 5 feet 7, about 160 pounds and in all-black clothing: ski mask, T-shirt and shorts.
He is being sought on three counts of kidnapping and one count each of first-degree robbery and burglary. The house is in the 1100 block of Kaeleku Street.
The robber went through the house and took a pearl necklace, a wedding ring and bank cards.
Anyone who may have noticed a man or car in the area between 10 p.m. and 3 a.m. or any other witnesses to this case should call Detective Bruce Swann at 529-3357, or CrimeStoppers at 955-8300.
Rescue crews save paddlers
Honolulu fire rescue crews saved six canoe paddlers yesterday when their canoe swamped offshore Ala Moana Beach Park.
Three fire companies, including the fire rescue boat, responded to the 5:33 p.m. alarm and rescued the six men about 200 yards outside the surf breakers, said Capt. Dave Mortensen. The rescue operation ended at 7 p.m. No one was injured.
Big surf prevented the rescue boat from towing the canoe to shore, so crews tied the canoe at the head buoy at the Ala Wai Channel, Mortensen said.
