Posted on: Friday, August 23, 2002
Police Beat
Stabbing suspect arrested in 'Aiea
An 18-year-old homeless man was arrested Wednesday night after he allegedly stabbed a man in an 'Aiea parking lot following an episode of road rage.
The suspect walked into a business at 98-1264 Ka'ahumanu St. about 9 p.m. and told an employee he had just stabbed someone. Police arrived and were alerted that a stabbing victim had arrived at Kapi'olani Medical Center at Pali Momi.
The victim, a 39-year-old Wahiawa man, told security officers at the hospital that the argument started over a traffic accident near the hospital and that the suspect had stabbed him while he was seated in his car, parked in the lot.
He was taken to The Queen's Medical Center. Hospital staff declined to update his condition.
Second fire set at Sheridan park
Police are investigating the second maliciously set fire this week at a Honolulu park, and fire officials have noted a series of similar cases recently in parks around the island.
Fire broke out at 1:04 a.m. yesterday in a second-floor multipurpose room at Sheridan Neighborhood Park's recreation center, 833 Pi'ikoi St. Damage was estimated at $45,000 to the building and $5,000 to the contents, which included a TV, VCR, refrigerator and chairs, said Capt. Richard Soo, spokesman for the Honolulu Fire Department.
A fire set Wednesday in the park bathrooms caused $20,000 damage, Soo said, adding that similar bathroom fires have been reported in Pu'unui, Moanalua and 'Aiea neighborhood parks since July 25.
In all the fires, piles of combustibles doused with flammable liquid were found. Police found evidence of burglary as well in yesterday's fire.
Man who died surfing identified
A man who died while surfing off Waikiki Beach Wednesday was identified as 55-year-old Daniel Pires of Honolulu.
Autopsy results in the case were pending yesterday.
Police said witnesses saw Pires on his surfboard about 5:50 p.m.; he then was seen slumping over and falling into the water. A nearby outrigger canoe crew brought him to shore; he was pronounced dead at Straub Hospital.
Puna men arrested in Hilo incidents
Police have arrested and charged two 18-year-old Puna men with terroristic threatening, assault and robbery in connection with separate incidents in Hilo.
The two were identified as Steven Willis and Justin Rabang.
The charges are connected with the terroristic threatening case of Virginia visitors and their hosts at the Wainaku Lookout on Aug.16, and the July 29 robbery and assault of a 51-year-old man at Wailoa State Park.
In the robbery case, Willis was charged with one count of robbery and two counts of assault. Rabang was charged with one count of robbery.
Both are being held in lieu of $100,000 bail.
Willis also was charged with five counts of terroristic threatening and one count of attempted unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle in the Wainaku case.
His bail on those charges was set at $12,000.
In addition, Willis was charged in a separate assault case in which a homeless man was attacked in July at a Kino'ole Street address in Hilo. Willis' bail for that charge was set at $10,000.
Police are investigating connections with other recent Hilo assaults and ask anyone with information to call Detective Jason Cortez at (808) 961-2379 or the police nonemergency number, (808) 935-3311.
Teen critically hurt in Wailuku crash
A 16-year-old Kahului boy remained in critical condition yesterday at Maui Memorial Medical Center following a one-car crash in Wailuku on Tuesday.
Police credited seat belts with minimizing injuries to three other occupants.
The accident occurred about 4:30 p.m. when a 1989 Chevy Blazer travelling south on Mehameha Loop overturned on the roadway and came to rest against a utility pole. The 15-year-old driver told police another car swerved into his lane, causing the vehicle to go out of control and overturn several times.
The 16-year-old boy, who was sitting in the front passenger seat, remained in intensive care yesterday. The driver and the rear-seat passengers, a 14-year-old boy and a 16-year-old boy, suffered minor injuries. All the boys wore seat belts.
Police believe the driver was speeding because the Blazer rolled approximately 260 feet. Mehameha Loop is normally used as a bypass road when portions of Mokulele Highway become flooded.
The crash site is four-tenths of a mile south of Mokulele Highway.
