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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Saturday, March 15, 2003

Police Beat

Advertiser Staff

3 men arrested in kidnapping case

Honolulu police have arrested three men in Pearl City on suspicion of kidnapping a 26-year-old man, who said he was also threatened with a handgun.

The three men, two of them age 30 and the other 29, were arrested by plainclothes officers at 8 p.m. Thursday.

The complainant told police he was forced into a car by acquaintances and taken to a nearby area where one of the men allegedly threatened him with a gun.

He managed to escape by gaining control of the weapon in a struggle. The man ran to the Pearl City police station and reported the incident.

He later assisted police by contacting the three men by cellular telephone. They agreed to meet, but police were waiting when the three men showed up.



Cruise crewman in critical condition

A 24-year-old crewman whose legs were cut by a cruise ship's propellers after he fell overboard at sea was listed in critical condition yesterday at The Queen's Medical Center.

A Coast Guard C-130 Hercules airplane from Kalaeloa transported Percival Meruena, a Philippine national, from Christmas Island to O'ahu on Thursday.

Meruena is a crewman aboard the Norwegian Star. The accident occurred 1,000 miles south of Ho-nolulu.



Police seek man released in error

BARING
HILO, Hawai'i — Big Island police are looking for a 27-year-old Kea'au man who was supposed to be jailed after a court appearance last month, but was mistakenly released by the state sheriff's office.

Police said Bobby Keone Baring slipped away from custody on Feb. 21 after appearing in both Circuit and District Court in Hilo.

During his appearance in Circuit Court, Baring was ordered held in lieu of $1,000 bail. In a later appearance in District Court, the judge ordered him released in his District Court case without bail. The sheriff's office then mistakenly let Baring go, police said.

Baring is 5 feet 9, about 155 pounds, with a medium build. He has a tan complexion, black hair and brown eyes.

Anyone with information about Baring's whereabouts is asked to call officer Lorenzo P. Artienda at (808) 961-2311 or the police non-emergency number at (808) 935-3311.



17-year-old girl missing on Big Isle

AYALA-KAAUMOANA
KAILUA, Hawai'i — Kona police are asking for the public's help in finding a 17-year-old Kailua girl who has been missing from her home since November.

The missing girl is Natasha Ayala-Kaaumoana. She is 5 feet 3, about 140 pounds, with a tan complexion, brown hair and brown eyes.

Ayala-Kaaumoana also is wanted on a contempt-of-court warrant, police said.

Anyone with information about her whereabouts is asked to call officer Gerald N. Wike of the Kona Juvenile Aid Section at (808) 326-4252, or the police non-emergency number at (808) 935-3311.

Those who wish to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 329-8181 in Kona or 961-8300 in Hilo. All Crime Stoppers information is kept strictly confidential.



3 men sought in sexual assaults

MANOHA
Honolulu police are asking for the public's help in finding three men who are wanted on separate grand jury warrants for alleged sexual assaults of four girls.

Sheldon Manoha, 29, is wanted for questioning in the sexual assaults of two girls, ages 12 and 13, in June 2001. Manoha's last known address was in 'Ewa Beach, but he is believed to be homeless and may frequent the Wai'anae area, police said.

Manoha is 6 feet, 180 pounds, with brown hair, brown eyes and a mustache. Police said he has a 1984 white Isuzu pickup truck with license plate 833-TJA.

Police also are looking for Florencio Gandule, 35, in connection with the sexual assault of a 12-year-old girl in the fall of 2001. He was recently seen in Waipahu and Wai'anae.

His last known address was in Wai'anae, but he was recently seen there and in Waipahu.

Gandule is 5 feet 2, 110 pounds, with a small build, dark brown hair and brown eyes.

The third man is Matias Ulangca Jr., 52, who is wanted in connection with the sexual assault of a 16-year-old girl in December 2001. His last known address was in Wai'anae and police believe he also is homeless.

Ulangca is 5 feet 8, 180 pounds, with gray, balding hair, and brown eyes.

Anyone with information on any of the men should call CrimeStoppers at 955-8300.