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The Honolulu Advertiser

Posted at 11:54 a.m., Thursday, June 13, 2002

Police Beat

Advertiser Staff

Tow-truck driver arrested in dispute

A tow company driver was arrested on suspicion of auto theft yesterday when he refused to unhook a car from the truck after the owner returned and paid the penalty.

Patrol officers were called after 3:35 p.m. to Bishop Street because an argument broke out between the 24-year-old truck driver and the car owner, who told police he arrived at his parked car to find it ready for towing.

The driver told the owner he would have to pay a $50 charge to get the car back. After the owner paid the penalty and got a receipt, the tow company dispatcher allegedly instructed the driver to tow the car anyway.

Police said they told the driver to release the car and gave several warnings before arresting the driver for unauthorized control of a motorized vehicle.

Dead marine mammal reported

Federal and state fisheries officials today were investigating reports that a dead marine mammal, probably a humpback whale, washed up about 100 yards offshore at Ka'a'awa.

A team from the National Marine Fisheries Service was dispatched to the site, where at about 6 p.m. yesterday a fisherman told police he spotted a dead whale offshore.

Investigators this morning confirmed the animal's decomposing carcass washed up on the reef overnight and would be removed today by the state, said a staffer for the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.

Man nabbed in store robberies

Police arrested a 21-year-old man last night at an 'Ewa Beach home in connection with four convenience-store robberies in April and May.

Robbery detectives and officers from the Wai'anae district crime reduction unit tracked the cases to the suspect and learned he was staying in 'Ewa Beach, where he was picked up at 8:10 p.m.

The robberies occurred April 30 at Bionic Chevron in Waipahu; May 22 at Mia's Chevron, 'Aiea; and May 22 and 29 at Kapolei Shell, said Lt. Raymond Quon, who heads the police robbery detail.

Stolen electric generator sought

CrimeStoppers has asked for help finding out who stole an electric generator belonging to KITV.

The generator was taken from the TV station's facility in Kunia between May 24 and June 10, police said.

The bright green unit, an Onan model 11.5 GNAB propane generator, is valued at $12,000. It weighs 800 pounds. Two 25-gallon propane tanks also were stolen.

Anyone with information can leave tips with CrimeStoppers at 955-8300 or *CRIME on a cellular phone.