Posted on: Friday, April 18, 2003
Sailor arrested in false claim of shooting
By Jan TenBruggencate
Advertiser Kaua'i Bureau
MANA, Kaua'i — Kaua'i police arrested a 19-year-old Navy guard for a false report late yesterday afternoon, after a huge air and ground search resulting from the sailor's report that he had been shot by unknown assailants.
The sailor admitted he fired the shots at himself, Navy public affairs officer Lt. Cmdr. Jane Campbell said. The guard was not seriously hurt, as gunshots to his chest area apparently had been absorbed by the bulletproof vest he wore.
Police and the Navy called off the search after "the sailor made a statement that there were no assailants," Campbell said.
Police identified the sailor as Arthur Charles Bass, with an address in Mana, Kaua'i.
Police took Bass into custody for investigation of filing a false report, and turned him over to agents from the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, Campbell said.
Initial police reports said the guard had been patrolling on foot at the Pacific Missile Range Facility's Mana magazine caves, and that he had been confronted about 1:45 p.m. by two men dressed in camouflage trousers and black T-shirts.
Those reports indicated the guard was shot two or three times with his own 9 mm service handgun, which was then dropped nearby.
The guard was taken to Kaua'i Veterans Memorial Hospital, where he initially gave detailed descriptions of the attackers. But by the end of the interrogation, he admitted there had been no attack.
An intense search and area-control effort were launched during the hours between the initial report and when the search was called off just before sunset.
Kaua'i police and Pacific Missile Range Facility personnel established a roadblock on Kaumuali'i Highway just north of the missile range main gate, turning back incoming cars and searching all outgoing vehicles. The road leads to the popular Polihale State Beach Park. Campers and beachgoers already at the park were not asked to leave.
Agents from the Navy's Criminal Investigation Division from O'ahu flew to Kaua'i yesterday to assist in the case.
A Navy helicopter from the missile range was dispatched to continuously search the rugged terrain of the region. Trained dogs were brought in to assist in the search.
The sailor was reportedly patrolling at the base of a ridge that is honeycombed with man-made caves and tunnels. They are referred to as magazine caves and are used for storage of conventional munitions and other materiel.
Reach Jan TenBruggen cate at jant@honoluluadvertiser.com or (808)245-3074.
