Police Beat

Advertiser Staff

Motorcyclist was Halawa man, 47

The medical examiner's office yesterday identified the motorcyclist killed Wednesday in Pearl City as Meliger P. Padre, 47, of Halawa.

Padre was riding a 2000 Yamaha motorcycle at 6:22 a.m. that was struck by a 2000 Dodge Intrepid attempting a left turn from Moanalua Road onto Ho'olaulea Street. He was thrown from the motorcycle by the impact, police said.

Padre, who was wearing a helmet, was pronounced dead at The Queen's Medical Center. Two men in the car, including the 21-year-old driver, were not hurt.

Speed may have contributed to the collision, but alcohol or drugs do not appear to be factors, vehicular homicide Sgt. Lorenzo Ridela said.

Hotel guest held in damage of room

A 51-year-old man was arrested yesterday on suspicion of damaging his guest room at the Aston Waikiki Grand Hotel. The man is also suspected of starting two trash can fires yesterday at the same hotel.

Rubbing alcohol was used to start a 7:23 a.m. fire in the basement of the hotel at 134 Kapahulu Ave. that was extinguished without causing any damage, Honolulu Fire Department spokesman Capt. Richard Soo said. Witnesses who saw the man start the fire apprehended him in a nearby park and held him for police, Soo added.

When the man was identified as a guest at the hotel, security officers checked his third-floor room and found the bathroom had been damaged and evidence of a second trash-can fire on the lanai. The $1,000 damage to the bathroom was not caused by fire, Soo said.

Girl inmates sent to prison

Four of eight captured escapees from the Hawai'i Youth Correctional Facility have been temporarily transferred to the Women's Community Correctional Center for disciplinary reasons, said youth facility administrator Melvin Ando.

The transfer was done with Family Court approval.

Two of the 10 girls who escaped Aug. 31 are still at large.

Ando said Child and Family Service, which is contracted by the state to provide security and other services at the girls' facility, has added more staff since the escape.

Police seek help in finding fugitive

KAMAKAWIWOOLE

Kamakawiwoole, 48, is wanted for a federal drug warrant and state warrants for failure to appear for prison sentencing, felony theft, dangerous drugs, and firearms convictions. She was last known to frequent the Waikiki area.

Kamakawiwoole, also known as "Aunty Becka," is described as 5 feet 5, between 150 to 200 pounds. She has black hair and a tan complexion.

Anonymous calls are taken at CrimeStoppers 955-8300 or *CRIME on your cellular phone.

Woman suspected of threatening man

Police on Wednesday arrested a 36-year-old McCully woman on suspicion of twice threatening a University of Hawai'i-Manoa faculty member. The woman, a former student, was arrested on campus after she allegedly verbally threatened the man, 36, before going to his office.

The woman allegedly threatened the same man with a knife on Sept. 9.

Police say the women was carrying a knife when she was arrested. She was released pending further investigation.

Power failure hits Ward businesses

Businesses at the Ward Wardhouse and Ward Farmers Market suffered a 40-minute power failure yesterday.

A Hawaiian Electric Co. spokesman said the power failure lasted from 9:40 to 10:22 a.m. Crews were looking into the cause of the power failure.

Police seek man in Kaimuki case

Police are seeking a 31-year-old man for questioning about a reported armed robbery and kidnapping Wednesday in Kaimuki.

A man, 44, and woman, 46, told police they were threatened with a knife and robbed during a dispute over money. The incident on the 3300 block of Wai'alae Avenue was reported at 9:30 p.m.