Posted on: Wednesday, June 23, 2004

Suspected bank robber arrested

By Rod Ohira
Advertiser Staff Writer

Hours of police homework paid off with the arrest of a suspected bank robber in Kalihi.

The 37-year-old man was arrested Monday at 8:10 p.m. at a gas station on North School and Dement streets by Windward O'ahu crime reduction officers.

The suspect, who has 43 convictions dating to 1988, was identified as the "frizzy-haired" bandit who robbed Hawai'i National Bank in Kailua on Monday, Central Pacific Bank in Mo'ili'ili a week earlier, City Bank in Kane'ohe on June 1 and American Savings Bank in Kalihi May 26.

One of the officers recognized him from an investigation into six armed robberies in Waipahu last December, said robbery Det. Brian Johnson.

Lt. Ray Quon of the Robbery Detail said his unit devotes more time to brainstorming sessions when they suspect a series developing.

"Everything we do — every robbery on this island — goes into a database," Quon said. The data is sorted into categories such as patterns exhibited by a suspect and includes everything from hijackings in schools to armed robberies.

Windward CRU officers spotted the suspect driving in Kane-'ohe and followed him to Kalihi, where they arrested him when he stopped to fill gas.

Authorities yesterday were seeking to charge the suspect federally for four bank robberies.