Police Beat

Advertiser Staff

Fire guts Maui building

A fire that destroyed a vacant building at the Aston Maui Lu Resort Sunday has been described by fire officials as suspicious. Christie Wilson • The Honolulu Advertiser

Hawaiian Electric crews yesterday braced a utility pole that was leaning dangerously over a stretch of Kamehameha Highway on the North Shore.

A section of the highway between Sunset Beach and Velzeyland was closed shortly after 8 a.m. yesterday because the pole was leaning over the roadway. The pole was used by HECO and several other utilities, said HECO spokesman Fred Kobashikawa.

Kobashikawa said crews were able to place a support on the pole and reopen the road at about 4 p.m. He said a crew will return later to replace the pole.

No power failures were reported, Kobashikawa said.

Maui resort fire under investigation

Fire officials yesterday were investigating a suspicious fire that destroyed a vacant, two-story building at the Aston Maui Lu Resort Sunday afternoon.

Damage from the 2 p.m. fire was estimated at $114,000, which includes the loss of appliances.

Hotel manager Charles St. Sure said many guests at the 30-acre resort were unaware of the fire because the building is at least 300 yards away from the nearest room with guests.

However, South Kihei Road was closed for about an hour between 2 and 3 p.m. Sunday, and the hotel's entrance was blocked until about 4 p.m., he said.

The fire was reported at 2:01 p.m., and was brought under control within 15 minutes.

Driver in Moloka'i crash recovering

A 21-year-old man critically injured in a car crash Saturday in west Moloka'i was upgraded to fair condition last night at The Queen's Medical Center.

Moloka'i police said the man's car struck a utility pole after veering off Maunaloa Highway.

Bicyclist still in critical condition

A 17-year-old boy remained in critical condition yesterday at The Queen's Medical Center after being struck by a pickup truck early Sunday in 'Ewa while riding a bicycle.

Police said the boy was headed south on Fort Weaver Road when he crossed a grass median and came into the path of a 1988 Nissan pickup truck at 1:03 a.m.

The bicycle had been reported stolen.

Two men charged in armed robbery

Police on Friday charged two men in an armed robbery Wednesday in Pearl City in which a woman was struck in the face with a pistol.

Charles Brooks, 23, and Jhirmel Pagan, 19, were charged with first-degree robbery and a firearm violation. They are each being held in lieu of $50,000 bail. The woman's purse and a gun were recovered when the suspects were arrested shortly after the 11:55 p.m. robbery in the 98-400 block of Kamehameha Highway was reported to police.

Hale'iwa burglary suspects charged

Two men were charged Sunday in connection with a burglary of a Hale'iwa home on Saturday.

Walter Hao, 20, of Wai'anae and Michael Samson, 22, of Wahiawa are being held on outstanding warrants.