Neighbor Island briefs

Advertiser Staff and News Services

Prison escapee captured

KEA'AU, Hawai'i — An inmate who escaped last week from the Kulani Correctional Facility was captured by police yesterday.

Gary R. Castro, 38, was arrested at 9 a.m. after a brief scuffle with officers at a residence in the Orchidland Estates subdivision in Puna, said Capt. Elroy Osorio Jr.

Castro already is serving a sentence for assaulting his former girlfriend and threatening police officers.

He was reported missing from the prison Sept. 10.

North Kohala victim identified

A Kamuela man who Big Island firefighters found Wednesday at Mahukona Beach Park in North Kohala died Saturday at Straub Clinic & Hospital. The medical examiner identified him as Ronald E. Walker, 56.

Walker was reported missing by a family member Tuesday night. Fire Rescue found him Wednesday morning and recovered his kayak offshore.