Police Beat
Advertiser Staff
Police seek man who robbed bank
Police are looking for a man who robbed the Bank of Hawaii main branch yesterday morning.
The robber entered the bank at 111 S. King St. around 9:30 a.m. and passed the teller a note stating he was armed, police said.
The man fled with an undisclosed amount of money and was last seen running on Bishop Street toward Nimitz Highway. No weapon was seen.
The robber is described as in his 30s, 6 feet tall, 170 pounds, of medium build, unshaven, with dirty blond, neck-length hair and fair complexion. He was wearing a dark multi-colored, short-sleeved dress shirt, denim jeans and slippers.
Anyone with information about the robber may call Detective Taro Nakamura directly at 529-3392. Anonymous calls may be made to CrimeStoppers at 955-8300, *CRIME on a cellular phone.
Defendant guilty in 1999 holdup
A 22-year-old O'ahu man faces a maximum sentence of life in prison after a federal court jury found him guilty yesterday of four criminal counts for his involvement in the July 1999 armed takeover and robbery of the Kahala branch of American Savings Bank.
The jury deliberated for about a day and a half before finding Sean Matsunaga guilty of robbing the bank on Hunakai Street as well as conspiring with others to do so. He also was convicted on two counts of carrying semi-automatic weapons used in the robbery, which involved four men.
U.S. District Judge Susan Mollway set a sentencing date of Jan. 21 for Matsunaga.
$80,000 to family in Palolo shooting
The family of a 30-year-old man who was fatally shot by police in January 1998 will receive an $80,000 settlement from the city.
Police said Rodney Laulusa, of Palolo, had been holding two fishing knives and moved toward officers when they fired on him 20 times, hitting him with 14 or 15 bullets.
The shooting was witnessed by a crowd of Palolo Valley Homes residents, who wanted the police officers to be brought to criminal trial. Laulusa's mother and uncle sued the city, accusing the officers of using excessive force.
However, Honolulu Prosecutor Peter Carlisle said there was no evidence excessive force was used.
Don Kitaoka, city deputy corporation counsel, said that the city decided to settle because the estimated cost of litigation, including individual attorneys for each of the five officers named in the lawsuit, would have cost about $500,000.
City Corporation Counsel David Arakawa said: "We still believe that the officers were justified. The guy had two knives, and he lunged at the officers."
Secret videotaping denied by man, 36
A 36-year-old Pearl City man pleaded not guilty Monday to two counts of violation of privacy for allegedly videotaping two women without their knowledge.
The trial for Gary Kaneshiro was set for the week of Dec. 9.
The alleged incident involving the women, ages 23 and 22, occurred last Oct. 30.
Kaneshiro was arrested Friday and released after posting $5,000 bail.
