Police Beat
Advertiser Staff
Pedestrian killed in Kahului
A 79-year-old male pedestrian was killed yesterday morning in a traffic accident in Kahului, Maui.
The victim, identified as Teodorico R. Galiza of Kahului, was struck by a 1986 Ford Ranger pickup truck on West Wakea Avenue at 5:38 a.m. at the intersection with South Kamehameha Avenue. Galiza died at the scene.
This is Maui County's ninth traffic fatality of the year, compared with 12 at the same time last year.
Baby's death yields 6-month jail term
LIHU'E, Kaua'i — A Kaua'i woman convicted in the death her newborn son was sentenced Thursday to six months in prison.
Christine Robles, 22, was also sentenced to 10 years' probation by Fifth Circuit Judge Clifford Nakea.
Robles pleaded guilty to manslaughter in June in connection with the April 2001 death of her newborn son, posthumously named Benny Robles.
Prosecutors said Robles stuffed the baby into a paper rice bag and threw the bag into a trash can outside her Koloa home to conceal her pregnancy from family members.
A forensic pathologist determined the child had been born alive and apparently healthy and was suffocated.
Nakea said he was prepared to give Robles a one-year sentence but changed his mind after seeing how supportive her family was.
Donor gives school 7 more 'ukulele
David Graves, owner of Leeward Pawnbrokers, added seven more 'ukulele to his original donation of two to Hale'iwa Elementary School yesterday.
He gave two tenor Sonny D's, one concerto Sonny D, two standard Kamakas, one Aria, one Koa Mele, one Martin and one Mele 'ukulele, said Mary Beth Graves, his wife.
Three more have been pledged by Eric Hamaguchi of Island Ukulele Co.
The school's 11 'ukulele were stolen July 5. That burglary is still under investigation, police said.
Makua blaze burns 20 acres
Eleven fire companies battled a brush fire in Makua early yesterday. Although only 20 acres were burned, the fire took 3 1/2 hours to be contained.
The fire broke out at 1:46 a.m. on a hillside between Makua Cave and the Makua Military Reservation training area, said fire department spokesman Capt. Kenison Tejada.
Man robs Wahiawa bank
Police are seeking a man in his 30s who robbed the Bank of Hawaii branch Thursday in Wahiawa.
The man allegedly walked into the bank at 634 California Ave. at 12:45 p.m. and passed a note to the teller that demanded money.
The teller complied, police said, and the robber fled.
Tractor accident victim identified
The Waialua man who died as a result of a July 19 traffic accident has been identified as Hong Cheng, 62.
Cheng died July 25 as a result of injuries suffered last week when he was thrown from his Ford farm tractor. A westbound white 1989 Chevrolet, driven by a 19-year-old man, struck the tractor just before 9 p.m. at Ku Place and Farrington Highway.
Drowning victim was Kane'ohe man
The city Office of the Medical Examiner has identified the man who drowned Wednesday at Ala Moana Park as Andrew Lum, 41, of Kane'ohe.
Police said Lum's body was found near shore at about 4:30 p.m. He apparently suffered a stroke.
