Police Beat
Advertiser Staff
Suspicious package closes post office
The discovery of a suspicious package containing a fireworks explosive forced the closure of the Ka'a'awa post office yesterday.
Postal workers were evacuated at 9:15 a.m. after an employee noticed what he thought was a pipe bomb in the newspaper stand of the post office parking lot at 51-480 Kamehameha Highway across from Swanzy Beach Park, according to Honolulu Fire Capt. Richard Soo.
The package contained a pipe, about 6 to 10 inches long and 3 inches wide.
The police Specialized Services Division bomb unit was called at 11 a.m. to Ka'a'awa and removed the device at 12:20 p.m., Soo said.
Injured hiker airlifted to safety
Fire helicopters airlifted a female hiker in her 20s to safety yesterday after she reportedly slipped and suffered a slight back injury along a trail above Wai'alae Iki.
The hiker's male friend called authorities by cellular phone about 12:30 p.m. and said the two were about two miles inward along the Wiliwili Nui Trail, according to Honolulu Fire Capt. Richard Soo.
Fire crews airlifted both hikers out of the area and the woman was taken to an area hospital, Soo said.
Woman reportedly kidnapped, beaten
A 40-year-old woman told police she was kidnapped and beaten by her former boyfriend Wednesday in Kaimuki. Police want to find and question the man, 39, who is wanted on two outstanding domestic violence warrants.
The woman alleges she was threatened by the man at Market City Shopping Center and forced to accompany him to his residence on Eighth Avenue, where she was held against her will from 5 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. and beaten, police said. The woman told police her former boyfriend blames her for a six-month jail sentence stemming from a domestic abuse conviction.
Drowning victim's identity verified
The medical examiner's office has confirmed the identity of Ernest Siu Bun Lau, 38, whose body was recovered Sept. 10 in waters at Ala Moana Beach Park. Lau was identified by dental records. The cause of death was accidental drowning, with seizure as a possible contributing factor.
Information sought on stolen surveys
CrimeStoppers is asking the public for information about the theft of 300 surveys from the Data Entry Institute of Hawai'i at 1314 S. King St. between Aug. 30 and Sept. 3.
The seven-page survey, conducted by the University of Hawai'i Research Corp., assessed the needs of the Wai'anae community and was to be used to make recommendations about a new public community center.
Anyone with information can call Detective David Lock at 547-7214 or CrimeStoppers at 955-8300 or *CRIME on your cellular phone.
Man suspected of firearms offenses
A 30-year-old Kapahulu man was arrested Wednesday in Waikiki on suspicion of committing multiple firearms offenses after patrol officers, investigating his suspicious behavior, found him to be armed. The arrest occurred at 6:01 a.m. on Kauna'oa Street.
Police seized a loaded handgun, ammunition, drugs and drug paraphernalia from the man's car.
Suspect arrested in possible assault
A 40-year-old Wahiawa man was arrested Wednesday night for allegedly striking his teenage son on the head with a plastic chair. Police are seeking to charge him with second-degree assault.
The boy, 15, was treated for a cut ear at Wahiawa General Hospital, which reported the injury to police because it stems from a domestic violence incident. The 9 p.m. incident occurred during an argument over the boy's late arrival home, police said.
