A preliminary hearing will be held Monday for a Kapolei man who was weeks away from graduating from the Honolulu police recruit class when he was charged with threatening his wife with a loaded semi-automatic handgun.

Ernie Gomez, 26, is being held in lieu of $75,000 bail at the O'ahu Community Correctional Center on a first-degree terroristic threatening charge. His hearing is set for 1:30 p.m. in state District Court.

According to court documents, on the morning of May 31, Gomez saw his wife talking with a male friend in the parking lot of Bloch Arena at Pearl Harbor and kissing the friend on the cheek.

He allegedly confronted them with a videocamera and told the other man his wife is "a policeman’s wife. The friend fled, and Gomez allegedly followed his wife home, chambered a round in the handgun and pressed it to his wife’s forehead, threatening to shoot. He also allegedly assaulted her, causing injuries to her face and legs.

Honolulu Police Department spokeswoman Michelle Yu confirmed that Gomez was enrolled in the recruit class scheduled to graduate June 15.

Arson suspected in Wai'anae Valley fire

Investigators have determined that a fire that destroyed a vacant Wai'anae Valley home late Tuesday was intentionally set, and police arson investigators have been called into the case.

Capt. Kenison Tejada, fire department spokesmen, said police laboratory technicians are studying samples to determine whether any fire-starting fluids were used.

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

Neighbors had reported hearing voices in or near the home before the fire began, Tejada said, adding that tenants had been evicted from the home a couple of weeks ago.

Sex assault against child charged

A 30-year-old Mo'ili'ili man faces multiple charges in connection with sexual assaults allegedly committed in April against an 11-year-old girl.

Paul Spinks, who is being held in lieu of $75,000 bail, was charged with four counts of first-degree sexual assault and seven counts of third-degree sexual assault. The child told her mother Spinks had assaulted her at his home several times April 18 to 24.

Tip leads to shoplift suspect

Police arrested a 35-year-old man suspected of shoplifting at the Kahala Mall Macy’s store after the CrimeStoppers program circulated a photo snapped by the store’s surveillance camera and an anonymous tip identified him.

David Hoapili was arrested Wednesday and charged with second-degree theft. He is being held in lieu of $25,000 bail.

East Honolulu police said the tipster claimed to be a friend of Hoapili, who allegedly took about $750 in clothing.

He has felony convictions for forgery, theft, auto break-ins, and credit card fraud, police said. His last known address is in Kane'ohe.

2 teens charged in store holdup

Two teenagers have been charged with second-degree robbery in connection with an April 26 holdup at a School Street convenience store.

Lino Kakiva, 19, and an unidentified 15-year-old boy were charged yesterday. No bail was set for the juvenile, but Kakiva is being held in lieu of $25,000 bail.

Police said both teens fled with money after threatening two female clerks at the store.

Tourists robbed at knifepoint

Police are seeking two men in connection with the robbery of two Japanese tourists early yesterday in the parking lot of the Food Pantry, 2370 Kuhio Ave.

One man is described as 5 feet 4 and 110 pounds with a crewcut. The second man also had a crewcut, was described as 5 feet 3 and 300 pounds, wearing a white T-shirt and dark-blue knee-length pants.

Police said the tourists had left the ABC Store on Kala kaua and were walking back to their Kanekapolei Avenue hotel when they were robbed at knifepoint.

Search leads to drug arrests

Big Island police charged two Hilo men in a crystal methamphetamine bust after serving a search warrant Tuesday at a Hilo business.

Gary Matsuo, 40, and Gary Vasconcellos, 38, were arrested after the search at G&G Machining and Waipio Valley Shuttles on Leilani Street.

Evidence recovered in the search included 39.2 grams of crystal methamphetamine, 1.4 grams of marijuana and $700 in cash.

Matsuo was charged Wed nesday with first-degree promotion of a dangerous drug, promotion of a detrimental drug and three counts of illegal possession of drug paraphernalia. He was released after posting $15,500 bail.

Vasconcellos was released for further investigation.