Investigators are still trying to determine the cause of a fire Saturday at 32 N. Hotel St. in Chinatown that gutted a building housing the Risque Book Store and Esquire Theater.

Honolulu Fire Department spokesman Capt. Kenison Tejada said the fire began in the janitor's maintenance room. Damage was estimated at $250,000 to the structure and $75,000 to contents.

Probation in gambling case

A man who acknowledged being the second in command in providing protection to what a federal prosecutor described as the largest illegal gambling operation on O'ahu was sentenced to four years probation in federal court yesterday.

Assistant U.S. attorney Florence Nakakuni said she did not oppose granting probation for Steve M. Crouch, who she said was instrumental in helping to prosecute those primarily responsible for operating an illegal gambling room in Chinatown. Crouch was one of 32 people arrested in May 2000 following a three-year federal undercover investigation into illegal gambling on O'ahu.

Tips sought in hit-and-run

Police are seeking information about a hit-and-run collision last night that injured a bicyclist on Hale'iwa Road, 289 feet southwest of Kaiaka Street.

The 48-year-old bicyclist suffered critical injuries and is at The Queen's Medical Center, police said. He was found on the roadway about 9:30 p.m.

Anyone with information about the driver or vehicle that fled the scene is asked to call traffic investigators at 529-3499.

Stabbing charge for ex-boyfriend

HILO, Hawai'i — Kona police have charged a 42-year-old man with stabbing his former girlfriend during an argument Sunday.

Police said Darrell Inere of Kailua-Kona was arrested at 11:50 a.m. yesterday at a home in Keauhou-Mauka. He was charged with attempted murder, assault and burglary, and held in the Kona police cellblock in lieu of $57,000 bail.

Police said Inere entered his former girlfriend's home in Captain Cook shortly before 5 a.m. Sunday and began to argue with her. He allegedly stabbed her once in the abdomen before fleeing.