Accused shoplifter dies after apparent ingestion of drugs

By Dan Nakaso
Advertiser Staff Writer

A man accused of stealing CDs from a Kailua music store died at Castle Medical Center Saturday after he regurgitated narcotics contained in small plastic bags, Honolulu police said yesterday.

The Honolulu medical examiner's office said the unidentified man died at 5:55 p.m. Saturday.

At 10:11 a.m. Saturday, the man asked about several items at the Hungry Ear music store on Ku'ulei Road then walked out, triggering shoplifting sensors, police said.

The store manager and owner grabbed the shoplifter outside the store and several CDs spilled from his shirt.

The man broke free and got into his vehicle as the manager wrote down the license plate. A passerby tried to get the suspect out of the vehicle, but the suspect activated a stun gun, police said.

The suspect fled in the vehicle and was later spotted by police at the intersection of Mokulua and 'A'alapapa streets in Lanikai.

Police said the man appeared ill.

At 11:05 a.m., they took him to Castle Medical Center, where he regurgitated "small Ziploc bags" containing unknown narcotics, according to police.

Reach Dan Nakaso at 525-8085 or at dnakaso@honoluluadvertiser.com.