POLICE BEAT
Murder suspect to be arraigned
Advertiser Staff
LIHU'E, Kaua'i — Richard Costa, 36, of Kalaheo, is scheduled for arraignment at 1 p.m. today on a murder charge in the death of 18-year-old Weslyn Jerves.
An autopsy indicated Jerves was stabbed between 10 p.m. and midnight Jan. 12. Police received an anonymous phone call at 7 a.m. the next day that led them to the body at a remote coastal area near Port Allen.
Costa was described as an acquaintance of Jerves. He was arrested Sunday night after detectives interviewed several people. Prosecutors said they expect to charge him with second-degree murder. No other details have been released.
Jerves, of Hanama'ulu, was a member of a large Island family and had a 1-year-old child.
Woman robbed, couple arrested
Police arrested a 37-year-old man and his 32-year-old girlfriend on Monday in connection with the armed robbery of a 27-year-old homeless woman at a public park restroom in Mo'ili'ili.
The woman told police that a female acquaintance approached her at about 10:10 a.m. and demanded money. The victim said she refused to turn over any money and was then approached by the woman's boyfriend, who punched her in the face and told his girlfriend to take her bag.
The victim told police the man took out a handgun, pointed it at her and asked if she wanted to die. She said she ran across the street to her sister's home and called police.
Driver suspected of stealing car
Police arrested a 20-year-old woman Monday morning in Wahiawa after they found her driving a car that a nonprofit organization had reported stolen.
A patrol officer said the woman ran a red light and that he ordered her to pull over so he could issue a traffic citation. A routine check on the car indicated it had been reported as stolen.
Search turns up car-theft suspect
Police arrested a 40-year-old man Monday as a suspect in the theft of a car from a 51-year-old Waialua man.
Police saw the man driving the stolen car but lost sight of it. They later found the car abandoned, searched the area and arrested the suspect for investigation of car theft.
