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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Thursday, April 25, 2002

Officers handled 'Aiea shooting 'as trained'

By Brandon Masuoka and Rod Ohira
Advertiser Staff Writers

A day after police shot and killed a 28-year-old man in 'Aiea, Honolulu Police Chief Lee Donohue yesterday said officers handled the situation appropriately.

Clinton Candelario was found in a garage on Kauhale Street after being chased by police through the Pearl City and Salt Lake areas earlier in the morning. Police said he was backing out a car he was trying to steal when two officers shot him at close range.

Candelario died from a gunshot wound to the neck and a spine injury, the city medical examiner's office said yesterday. He had been wanted after fleeing from a court-ordered drug rehabilitation program without permission on March 19.

"Based on the information that I received at the scene, it appears that the officers responded as they were trained to do," Donohue said.

The investigation is continuing, he said.

A 32-year-old officer with 11 years of service who shot Candelario was dragged by the moving Toyota Camry when he leaned in to try to stop the car. Another officer, a 36-year-old with 10 years of service, shot through the passenger-side window. Both officers suffered arm or hand injuries and were treated at the scene.

Jamie Nakano, the lawyer who represented Candelario during the Hawai'i Drug Court program, yesterday said Candelario was "very excited" about entering the program. The drug court provides non-violent offenders a chance to avoid prison if they successfully complete the rehabilitation program.

"He was really fortunate to have that opportunity. As far as what happened, your guess is as good as mine," Nakano said. "It's unfortunate that it ended up the way it did and that he didn't fully take advantage of drug court."

According to police, Candelario was trying to steal the car of the Kauhale Street residence of Roy Miyoga, who yesterday said he was thankful that his wife, 3-year-old son and 81-year-old mother-in-law were not injured.

"It could have been worse for our family; it could have been a hostage situation," said Miyoga, 'Aiea High School's athletic director who was at work at the time. He said Candelario entered his home through an unlocked kitchen door and confronted his wife.

"My wife and son were in the house and my mother-in-law was in the (makai side) yard pulling weeds," Miyoga said. "The intruder came into the house. My wife thought he was injured in an accident and needed to use the phone so she offered to help him."

Miyoga said his wife noted a change in the tone of the stranger's voice as he demanded the keys to her car.

"She felt afraid," Miyoga said. "She told him no and he started looking around the kitchen. The keys were on the counter. He grabbed it and left."

Mrs. Miyoga followed Candelario to the garage and began screaming for help as he started up the car. Two Pearl City patrol officers cruising the neighborhood looking for Candelario, heard her screams.

"The police came in (to the garage) with guns drawn," Miyoga said. "My wife and son went back into the house. She heard the shots and paged me to come home."

A neighbor credited police officers for acting quickly to prevent anyone from getting hit by the car, but Miyoga said his wife at no time mentioned that his son was in harm's way.

"It surprised me," he said about the witness' account.

Miyoga noted that his mother-in-law did not realize what was going on until she heard the shots. "It was a traumatic experience for all of them," he said. "We have to get a new car, but the main thing is everybody is safe."