Police Beat

Advertiser Staff

Man arrested in Makiki incident

Police yesterday talked a 51-year-old man out of his former girlfriend's apartment in Makiki. The incident ended peacefully.

The man, armed with a large hunting knife, had entered the woman's Kina'u Street apartment about 9:30 a.m. through an unlocked back door, police said. He allegedly punched and kicked his former girlfriend and threatened to kill her and her 82-year-old mother for reporting a protective-order violation last month, police said.

The man's former girlfriend tried to lock herself in a bedroom, where her 29-year-old daughter was hiding, but was caught by the suspect, who allegedly threatened to kill the woman and himself with a pair of scissors, police said.

Police responded to the scene shortly before 10 a.m. The suspect allowed the women in the apartment to leave before surrendering at 10:53 a.m.

Police are seeking to charge the man with kidnapping, first-degree burglary, two counts of first-degree terroristic threatening, abuse of a household member and violating a protective order.

Store evacuated after fluid spill

Ten employees were evacuated about 8:20 a.m. today from Nordstrom Rack in Kaka'ako after a gallon of muratic acid was spilled inside the store.

Three Honolulu Fire Department companies responded, including Hazmat 1, but the problem was not as serious as first believed, said Capt. Kenison Tejada, department spokesman.

Employees kept washing the cleaning liquid down a drain, diminishing the problem in the store, Tejada said. Fans and the store air conditioning helped clear fumes.

Paramedics treated one employee for nausea and respiratory problems, Tejada said.

Brush fire persists in Ka'u

Big Island firefighters were close to establishing a firebreak today to contain a brush fire that has burned more than 500 acres between Ka'amiami Beach and Highway 11 in the Ka'u District. The blaze, started by lightning strikes on Sunday, is reportedly not under control.