Police Beat
Advertiser Staff
Police seek help identifying body
Police yesterday asked for the public's help in identifying a man's body that was found decomposed and partially burned the night of May 14 near Kea'au Beach Park.
The man was between 5 feet 5 inches and 5 feet 8 inches tall, with a medium build and has the word "MAKAHA" tattooed in old English lettering running down the outside of his left leg.
On May 14, a man called Wai'anae district police about 7 p.m. after he discovered the body near the bushes on the makai side of Farrington Highway near the park.
Homicide detectives have been assigned because the body had been burned.
The body was reduced to skeletal remains in some areas, said Susan Siu, the medical examiner's lead investigator.
Detectives believe the man died within a week of being discovered. Anyone with information about this case is asked to call Crime-Stoppers at 955-8300.
Bail maintained in '00 Hilo rape case
HILO, Hawai'i — Hilo Circuit Judge Barbara Takase yesterday denied a request for bail reduction for an O'ahu man accused of raping a Hilo woman in November 2000 while impersonating a police officer.
John Pali Paio Jr., 57, of Pearl City, remains in jail, unable to raise a $90,000 bail bond. He was arrested on O'ahu and brought back to the Big Island Thursday night.
According to police, Paio went to a woman's home in Waiakea and identified himself as a police officer to get into the house. He is charged with nine felonies, including impersonating a police officer, illegal possession of a firearm and two counts of first-degree sexual assault.
A preliminary hearing will be at 9:30 a.m. Tuesday.
Abductor flees after abusing girl
Police were searching for a man who snatched a sleeping 8-year-old girl from her Kalihi Valley home and sexually abused her early Friday.
The intruder entered the Kalihi Street home at 1:30 a.m. through an open door, grabbed the girl, took her to a wooded area behind the house and fondled her, police said.
The intruder fled when the house lights came on, police said.
Police classified the case as a burglary, kidnapping and sexual assault. Anyone with information is asked to call police.
Rooftop fire empties condos
Fire forced the evacuation of dozens of residents of the Mauna Luan condominiums in Hawai'i Kai last night.
The fire broke out in the rooftop mechanical room that operates elevators in the condominium complex's 20-story west tower on Hahaione Street, just off Hawai'i Kai Drive.
The fire was reported at 9:38 p.m. and was quickly brought under control, said Capt. Richard Soo, spokesman for the Fire Department.
There were no reports of injury related to the fire. Residents were allowed back into their units shortly after 10:45 p.m.
Japanese tourist dies at Hanauma
A Japanese tourist drowned at Hanauma Bay Thursday after apparently suffering a stroke while swimming, police said.
The city medical examiner has identified the woman as Masayo Okayama, 62, of Japan.
She was pronounced dead at Straub Hospital at 11:53 a.m.
Teens' vehicle flips trying to pass car
Four teenagers escaped with minor injuries after an accident Thursday night in which their car ran onto the shoulder of Kalaniana'ole Highway and flipped over.
The teens — two boys and two girls, ages 15-16 — were riding in the Waimanalo-bound lane of the highway about 10 p.m., said Capt. Robert Thomas of the Hawai'i Kai fire station.
Thomas said the driver veered into the left lane to pass another vehicle, overshot the pavement and lost control of the car near the Koko Head shooting range.
