Police Beat
Advertiser Staff
Fire destroys house in Wai'anae
A Wai'anae house was destroyed by fire early yesterday, in a blaze that investigators suspect was set.
Firefighters arrived four minutes after the 12:21 a.m. alarm but found the Alta Street home engulfed in fire. The blaze was under control at 12:31 a.m., said fire Capt. Kenison Tejada, but the house was a total loss. Damage was set at $120,000 to the structure and $5,000 to the contents, Tejada said. The cause is still under investigation.
Police seek man in Makiki robbery
Police are looking for a man in his 20s or early 30s who broke into a Makiki apartment yesterday and robbed the male resident at knifepoint when he was discovered.
The resident, 44, told police he awoke at 12:25 a.m. and found the man in his apartment at 1121 Wilder Ave. The intruder then allegedly confronted the resident with a knife, demanded cash and jewels and took the victim's wallet.
The man then allegedly went downstairs, accompanied by the victim, and fled on foot.
He was described as being 5 feet 8, 160-180 pounds. with a slender to medium build and short curly black hair. He was clean-shaven and was wearing a dark T-shirt, dark shorts and slippers with black socks.
Princeville man suspect in robbery
LIHU'E, Kaua'i — Police on Thursday arrested a 35-year-old Princeville man implicated in the knifepoint robbery of a hitchhiker the day before.
Oscar A. Mantejo II was charged with first-degree robbery.
Police said the hitchhiker reported being picked up in Kapa'a and driven to an isolated location, where the robbery occurred.
Radio-station calls net stolen vehicle
A 19-year-old 'Aiea man and his 14-year-old female companion were arrested Thursday after police traced the stolen car they drove from Kailua to Moanalua Valley.
A caller to radio station KSSK reported that the car was stolen and then other listeners reported seeing it in Kalihi Valley, police said. The parked car was spotted on Ala Aolani Place with people around it. Police found the male suspect hiding beneath a house.
Homeless man arrested in thefts
Charges have been filed against a 25-year-old homeless man in a Wednesday burglary and auto theft case that led police from the Kailua break-in to Waimanalo, where the suspect abandoned the stolen car and was arrested.
Justin Augustin was arraigned yesterday in District Court on first-degree burglary and auto theft charges.
Electric wheelchair stolen from school
CrimeStoppers is seeking help in finding an electric wheelchair stolen Tuesday from the front of a Kalihi Kai Elementary School classroom.
The wheelchair, an Invacare Electric Model Power 9000 valued at $5,500, was taken between 8:15 and 9 a.m., police said. It is described as a cream-colored wheelchair with a dark green seat. An orange Pokemon backpack was hung on the handles.
Anyone with information about this case may call Detective William Estrella at 529-3829, or file an anonymous tip with CrimeStoppers, 955-8300 or *CRIME on a cellular phone.
