Posted on: Thursday, June 3, 2004

O'ahu briefs

Advertiser Staff

HONOLULU

Toddler drowns in Foster Village

An 18-month-old boy apparently drowned yesterday at a Foster Village swimming pool.

Police said the child was watching television with other children when he disappeared at about 10:45 a.m. Family members found the boy unresponsive in the home's swimming pool, police said.

He was taken to Kapi'olani Medical CenteriPali Momi, where he was pronounced dead. The boy's identity was not released yesterday.

Police have classified it as an unattended death. An autopsy will be conducted.

Bank robbery suspect sought

Police yesterday were looking for a man they believe committed two bank robberies in one week — Tuesday at City Bank's Kane'ohe branch and May 26 at the American Savings Kalihi branch.

He was described as 5 feet 9, weighing 190 to 210 pounds, with a tan complexion, bushy haircut and wearing a black T-shirt and jeans.

In Tuesday's robbery, a man who demanded money from a teller was seen fleeing toward Kane'ohe in an older model white Ford truck with a blue stripe driven by an another man.

Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Brian Johnson at 692-4602. Anonymous calls can be made to CrimeStoppers at 955-8300 or *CRIME on a cellular phone.

LEEWARD

Wai'anae fire being studied

Fire investigators yesterday were looking into the cause of a fire that destroyed a vacant Wai'anae Valley home late Tuesday.

The fire in the 1500 block of Wai'anae Valley Road was reported about 9:20 p.m. Firefighters were able to bring it under control a half-hour later.

Damage was estimated at $120,000 to the building and its contents, said fire spokesman Capt. Kenison Tejada. He said the cause was under investigation, but neighbors reported hearing voices in or near the home before the fire began.

Tejada said tenants had been evicted from the home a couple of weeks ago.