Posted on: Tuesday, November 30, 2004
POLICE BEAT
Truck crash snarls freeway
Advertiser Staff
A dump truck crashed and flipped on its side, spilling a load of dirt on Moanalua Freeway and causing a traffic nightmare yesterday afternoon.
No one was seriously injured in the 5:33 p.m. accident in the west-bound lanes near the Middle Street overpass. But police closed all 'ewa-bound lanes for more than three hours while the road was cleaned up.
Police said a large tow wagon was needed to move the truck and special equipment was brought in to clear the dirt. The freeway was reopened at 8:45.
The road closure backed traffic well into town, as traffic was diverted to Middle Street and the H-1 Freeway.
Armed man robs sandwich shop
An employee at the Subway sandwich shop at Mililani Town Center was robbed at gunpoint last night.
Police said a man walked into the store on Meheula Parkway shortly before 9 p.m. and showed the employee a gun. The man, who was wearing something covering his face, fled after taking some money.
Police were searching for the suspect last night.
Driver indicted in traffic death
HILO, Hawai'i — A Big Island woman has been indicted in the traffic death of a Papa'ikou woman in 2002.
The indictment alleges Alison K. Vares, 37, was driving under the influence of drugs or alcohol on Dec. 26, 2002 when she was involved in a three-car accident on the Kea'au-to-Pahoa highway.
According to police accounts at the time, Vares was driving east in a 1995 Pontiac sedan when her car allegedly rear-ended another vehicle, pushing it into the path of an oncoming car driven by Normus Castaneda, also of Papa'ikou.
Poliperia L. Domingcil, 77, was a front-seat passenger in Castaneda's vehicle. She died later that day.
According to the indictment, the crash also caused serious injuries to Norma Jean Castaneda.
Vares was indicted for first-degree negligent homicide and first-degree negligent injury.
Police charge man after finding rifle
HILO, Hawai'i — Big Island police have charged a 39-year-old man with firearms violations for allegedly shooting a rifle in a residential area in Ka'u Friday.
Officers arrested Gregory A. Driessen, of Hawaiian Ocean Views Estates. A search of his home allegedly turned up a .32-caliber Winchester rifle and ammunition.
Police learned Driessen had a previous criminal conviction, which means he is prohibited from possessing any firearm. Driessen was charged with reckless endangering and prohibited ownership of a firearm.
Check-cashing attempt fails
A woman who persisted in trying to cash what turned out to be a stolen check was arrested in Mo'ili'ili Sunday morning on suspicion of forgery charges, police said.
Police said the woman approached a teller at a supermarket bank branch and tried to cash a check but was turned away because she did not have an account with the bank.
The teller became suspicious and contacted the account holder, a 72-year-old Pacific Heights man, who said the check had been stolen, police said.
They said the woman returned about 10 a.m. and tried a second time to cash the check. Patrol officers sent to the bank arrested the woman.
Car-theft suspect arrested in Ma'ili
A 35-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of car theft Sunday morning after the car's owner saw it at a beach park in Ma'ili.
Police said the man who owns the car drove a different car to the beach about 10:40 a.m. and saw two people in the car that belongs to him. The car owner then used the car he was driving to block the access road leading back to Farrington Highway and called police.
The owner then led police officers to the stolen car, pointed out the man he saw driving the car earlier and watched as police arrested the man.
Roommate faces assault charge
A 25-year-old Kapolei man was arrested on suspicion of second-degree assault early Sunday morning after his roommate, 32, told police the younger man punched him in the face, fracturing a bone near his right eye.
The man who filed the report told police he had argued with his roommate and had a minor physical altercation with him earlier in the evening. The older man said he went out for a while and was assaulted when he returned home about 3:40 a.m.
The man's roommate was arrested and then released pending further investigation.
Girl, 11, accuses teen of assault
A 15-year-old McCully boy was arrested Sunday in response to a report filed Tuesday by an 11-year-old girl from Kamehameha Heights who told police the boy touched her inappropriately on several occasions between May and August.
The boy was arrested on suspicion of third-degree sexual assault before being released to his parents pending further investigation.
Police search for missing man
The man was identified as Mark Raymond Tourney, also known as Mark Raymond Hollman, Mark Raymond Jeter and Marcos L. Hollomin.
Tourney was described as 6 feet 1 and 185 pounds, with brown eyes and brown hair.
He was last seen in Kea'au in July 1999, but police believe he is still on the Big Island.
Anyone with information on Tourney's whereabouts is asked to call Detective Greg Esteban of the East Hawai'i Criminal Investigation Section at 961-2384 or the police non-emergency number at 935-3311.
Big Island police are looking for a 53-year-old man who was reported missing.
Mark Raymond Tourney
