Police Beat
Advertiser Staff
Maui man booked as hit-run suspect
Maui police arrested a 39-year-old Lahaina man yesterday in connection with a hit-and-run traffic death Sunday.
The man turned himself in at the Wailuku police station yesterday at 2:40 p.m. and was booked on suspicion of causing a fatal accident, failure to render aid, and other counts.
He was released pending further investigation, police said. The man's 2000 silver Toyota 4Runner was being examined by the Traffic Vehicle Homicide Unit.
The victim, struck while walking on Honoapi'ilani Highway by a vehicle traveling south, died at about 2:10 a.m. Sunday. After hitting the pedestrian 2.4 miles north of Pu'ukolii Road, near Mile Marker No. 25, the car left before police arrived.
Lt. Charles Hirata said police believe that the auto was not speeding when it hit the pedestrian and it's unclear whether the driver was under the influence of alcohol.
Hirata said the man turned himself in while police were planning to go to his home to question him. According to Hirata, the man declined to make a statement on the advice of his attorney.
Maui police have tentatively identified the victim as a 50-year-old Lahaina resident, but have not released his name until members of his family could be notified.
Injury critical in Chinatown fight
Police last night were investigating a Chinatown stabbing that left a 53-year-old man in critical condition.
The stabbing, reported at 6:47 p.m., occurred at the Chinatown Gateway Park on the corner of Bethel and Hotel streets, near the rear of the Indigo Eurasian Cuisine restaurant.
A witness told police that two men began arguing, then one pulled out a sharp object and stabbed the other in the chest.
The assailant ran 'ewa-bound on Hotel Street. The injured man was taken to The Queen's Medical Center in critical condition.
Police said they did not know what led to the stabbing.
The assailant, described as being in his 40s, was between 5 feet 9 and 6 feet, and 200 pounds. He wore a gray tank top, blue jean shorts and a maroon baseball cap.
Police-car thief still on the loose
Police last night were searching in Waipahu for a man who attempted to run over a police officer and then stole the officer's vehicle in Whitmore Village on Monday.
The officer had stopped the man for a traffic violation on Whitmore Avenue and found that the car was reported stolen. He attempted to arrest the driver, but the man drove off, struck the officer and took off running after he drove the car into a wall.
The injured officer ran after him, but could not catch the man, who ran back, entered the officer's Dodge Durango SUV and drove it at the officer. The officer fired two or three shots at the fleeing SUV.
Police found the abandoned vehicle at the Kunia Terrace apartment complex at 94-049 Waipahu St. at about 6:30 p.m.
Court witness reports assault
Police arrested a 41-year-old man Saturday at Nanakuli Beach Park on suspicion of assaulting a woman in an alleged attempt to intimidate her because she planned to testify against him in court.
The woman told police the man threatened her with a hammer and struck her on the hand when she raised her arm to fend off a blow to the head.
Stolen backhoe found on road
Honolulu police have recovered a backhoe-loader stolen from Hickam Air Force Base earlier this year but are still seeking clues about the theft.
Wai'anae patrol officers responding to a complaint about construction equipment blocking traffic on Plantation Road found the 1999 Caterpillar backhoe-loader on July 31.
Tips can be directed to Hickam investigator Rodney Lambert at 449-2645. Anonymous tips can be left with CrimeStoppers at 955-8300, or *CRIME on a cellular phone.
