Arrested man may have aided escapees

By Rod Ohira
Advertiser Staff Writer

A 31-year-old former residential specialist for Child & Family Service has been arrested on suspicion of being an accomplice in the Aug. 31 escape of 10 girls from the Hawai'i Youth Correctional Facility.

All but three of the escapees have been captured. The arrest was based on statements from some of the escapees in custody and a co-worker that indicated the man "aided in the planning and failed to prevent the escape," police said.

The man, who was arrested at 8:35 a.m. Thursday, was released yesterday morning pending further investigation for possible indictment, police said.

Child & Family Service was awarded a one-year bid contract to provide services at the HYCF girls' facility earlier this year, said Bert Matsuoka, Office of Youth Services executive director. The services included providing unarmed security for the girls' facility.

The boys' facility is still staffed by state youth correctional officers, Matsuoka added.

The man arrested was hired as a residential specialist, said Dan Watanabe of Child & Family Service, which took over operation of the girls' facility two weeks before the escape.

The man was employed for 1 1/2 weeks and quit the day after the escape, Watanabe said.

A residential specialist's duties would cover counseling, behavior therapy and some security responsibilities, Watanabe added.

Security at the girls' facility is subcontracted to a private firm that Watanabe would not identify.

The alleged accomplice and a woman security officer were overpowered by 10 girls on Aug. 31.

The escapees ripped telephone wires from the wall, took guard radios, and facility and van keys, before fleeing the area.

Two Kailua men, ages 23 and 19, were arrested last week at a Keolu Hills home on suspicion of first-degree hindering prosecution for allegedly providing transportation to the escapees.