Posted at 11:19 a.m., Monday, June 26, 2006
POLICE BEAT
Extortion for phone return leads to arrest
Advertiser Staff
A 24-year-old Wahiawa woman and a 22-year-old Schofield Barracks soldier were arrested in Wahiawa yesterday after they allegedly tried to extort a man whose cellular phone was taken from him in a robbery on Saturday.The cell phone owner, 21, told police a friend called the number to the stolen cell phone and a woman answered. He said his friend told the woman the cell phone owner wanted it returned, but the woman demanded $80 to give the phone back.
Police said the phone owner met with the man and woman about 10:10 a.m. yesterday in Wahiawa and told the pair he only had $30 — not $80 as was demanded — to get his phone back.
At that point, the other man drew a pocketknife and plainclothes officers who were monitoring the situation moved in to arrest the couple on suspicion of second-degree extortion.
Police do not believe the pair arrested yesterday took part in the robbery on Saturday.
