Police Beat

Advertiser Staff

Robbery victim in critical condition

A 23-year-old man was critically injured during a robbery early yesterday morning at Ma'ili Beach Park.

A woman told police that she heard two men arguing at the park at about 3:45 a.m. She said she then saw a man lying on the ground and another man taking a backpack from the victim and fleeing, police said.

The man was taken to the Queen's Medical Center in critical condition. Details about his injuries were not available.

No arrest had been made as of last night.

Murder suspect pleads not guilty

A 33-year-old man yesterday pleaded not guilty to a second-degree murder charge in connection with the death of Seawind Surf and Street co-owner Michiko Sakata on April 22.

The trial date for Daiki Iba, a citizen of Japan who is here on a work visa, was scheduled for the week of July 14.

Bond revoked in murder case

Todd Lokene Lopez, 35, charged with murdering his girlfriend Memory Joy Medina last Nov. 27, surrendered to police Sunday after a Maui-based bail company revoked its surety of the $100,000 bond it posted for his release last month. Police said Lopez failed to meet conditions imposed by the company for the bond.

Lopez was expected to be returned to the O'ahu Community Correctional Center. His trial is expected to start the week of Aug. 11, according to the Prosecutor's Office.

Medina was found dead in her Awalai Street home in Waipahu. She had multiple stab wounds to the neck and chest, police said.

Man attacked with tire iron

A 27-year-old man hit three times in the head with a tire iron Sunday in Pearlridge was taken to The Queen's Medical Center in serious condition, police said. The 4 a.m. attack occurred at a Ka'onohi Street address and is being investigated as as an attempted murder. The suspect fled the scene in a truck and is at large, police said.

Accident victim's name released

The medical examiner's office yesterday disclosed the identity of the man who died Friday from injuries suffered in a March 10 traffic crash.

Vincent Martinez, 78, was the driver of a 1991 Toyota Camry that drifted across the center lane on North School Street near Kamehameha IV Road and into the path of a city bus at 8:30 a.m., police said.

There were no passengers on the bus or in the car, and the bus driver was not injured. Martinez died at The Queen's Medical Center.

His death was O'ahu's 32nd traffic fatality of the year.

Suspect in assault at beach set free

A 17-year-old arrested Sunday on suspicion of attacking a woman sunbathing at an isolated North Shore beach has been released pending further investigation.

He was booked for attempted murder and kidnapping.

A 28-year-old woman told police a man attacked her at 10:30 a.m. while she was lying face down near Sunset Beach. He allegedly twisted her neck and tried to cover her face with a towel, police said. The sound of an all-terrain vehicle scared him off, police said. The suspect was found at a nearby bus stop, questioned and released at 3:10 p.m.