Posted on: Friday, October 11, 2002
Police Beat
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Bank robber hits American Savings
A man robbed the Kaheka branch of American Savings Bank at 1600 Kapi'olani Blvd. yesterday and ran away.
There were no injuries reported in the 9:40 a.m. robbery, police said.
The male robber was described as 30 to 35 years old, 5 feet 10 to 6 feet tall and 300 pounds. He had a tan complexion and short black hair, wearing a white T-shirt with red logo, dark denim shorts and athletic shoes.
Police noted that the man in yesterday's robbery and the man who robbed the Hawai'i National Bank Kaimuki branch on Wednesday were of similar build and weight.
Anyone with information about this case may call Robbery Detective Gordon Makishima directly at 529-3383 or CrimeStoppers at 955-8300 or *CRIME on your cellular phone.
It was the fourth bank robbery on O'ahu in the past six days and the ninth in the past six weeks, police said.
"We usually average about three bank robberies a month," said police Detective Letha DeCaires.
FBI agent Kevin Rickett said they expect bank robberies here to increase from now until Christmas.
Wai'anae blaze scorches 20 acres
A wind-blown brushfire burned 20 acres in Wai'anae and came to within 60 feet of homes yesterday afternoon.
The fire was reported at 3:08 p.m. along Ala Hema Street. Fifteen fire companies, including the Air One helicopter, fought the blaze for about three hours before bringing it under control, said fire spokesman Capt. Kenison Tejada.
There were no reports of property damage, and the cause of the fire was not known. But Tejada said the blaze was in the same area as other fires that were intentionally set.
Firefighthers were hampered yesterday by a ruptured pipeline that served a fire hydrant. Tejada said fire trucks were forced to leave the area because fire officials feared the road would collapse.
Kalihi man charged in stabbing incident
Police on Wednesday charged a Kalihi man with first-degree assault, attempted murder in the second degree and first-degree burglary for allegedly forcing his way into a Kahanu Street home Tuesday and stabbing two people.
Rengell Del Val, 19, is being held in lieu of $100,000 bail. He is accused of attacking a man, 19, who suffered multiple stab wounds; the victim is listed in good condition at The Queen's Medical Center, police said. A 19-year-old woman, stabbed when she tried to assist the victim, also was reported to be in good condition.
Hearing delayed in Navy court martial
The pretrial court martial hearing for a Navy man accused of killing his wife and mother-in-law in June has been re-scheduled for Nov. 12. Military attorneys for Hull Technician Second Class David A. DeArmond have been granted two continuances since the original Sept. 10 hearing date.
DeArmond is accused of murdering his wife, Zaleha, and mother-in-law, Saniah B. Abdul Ghani. Other charges include rape and impeding an investigation. The pretrial hearing will determine what charges DeArmond will be tried for at a court martial.
Man with gun arrested at club
Police arrested a 19-year-old man for carrying a .38-caliber handgun into a nightclub early yesterday morning.
Around 1:30 a.m., employees at Gussie L'amours nightclub at 3251 North Nimitz Highway notified a police officer working special duty that they saw the man with a gun in his jacket pocket.
The man was tackled by a bouncer while trying to flee, police said. The man then reportedly pulled the gun out of his jacket, but the weapon was wrestled away by the police officer.
Investigators said the suspect had just moved here from California. He may face firearms charges.
Wahiawa man, 26, shot in face
A 26-year-old Wahiawa man was in critical condition at The Queen's Medical Center yesterday after being shot in the face Wednesday. The shooting may have happened near Kukea Circle, police said.
Police said the man was brought to the Waialua Fire Station by another man shortly after 2 p.m. Wednesday. He was shot on the left side of his face just below the mouth.
Investigators were trying to determine if there is a connection between the shooting and a mailed package containing marijuana that was delivered to a wrong address on Kukea Circle. The marijuana package was turned in to police shortly before 2 p.m.
Japan teen accused of sex assault
An 18-year-old foreign student was charged in the kidnapping and sexually assault of a 16-year-old girl Oct. 2. Daisuke Shiga of Japan was charged with three counts of first-degree sexual assault and one count of third-degree sexual assault in addition to kidnapping.
Shiga appeared yesterday in District Court, where bail was confirmed at $100,000.
Shiga is accused of attacking the girl, who attends the same Honolulu high school, at his Wilder Street residence.
