Posted at 11:21 a.m., Tuesday, January 13, 2004
Police arrest suspect in 'Aiea hit-and-run death
Advertiser Staff
Police last night arrested a 'Aiea man in connection with the Jan. 2 hit-and-run death of 40-year-old Kailua man.Julio Duque Jr. suffered fatal injuries when a vehicle struck his pickup truck from behind as he stepped out of his truck on Ka'amilo Street in 'Aiea.
CrimeStoppers issued a description of the suspect vehicle — a gold Mazda minivan — and asked auto body shops to be on the lookout for such a vehicle with suspicious damage to its grill and front.
It was a tip to CrimeStoppers last night that led to the recovery of a gold Mazda minivan and the arrest.
Lt. Bennett Martin, supervisor of Honolulu police vehicular homicide investigations, said the van had damage that matched pieces of a grill recovered at the accident scene. The 53-year-old man, who is the registered owner of the van, was arrested at his Kaulainahe'e Place residence at 10:20 p.m.
He was booked on first-degree negligent homicide and failure to render aid. After being booked, the man was taken to a hospital with a medical condition unrelated to his arrest, Martin said.
The man has two prior felony convictions for third-degree promotion of dangerous drugs and possession of drug paraphernalia in April 2000.
Vehicular homicide investigations normally lead to indictments rather than immediate charges. Martin said police will need to obtain a warrant to search the van and gather forensic information.
