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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Tuesday, February 26, 2008

HAWAII BRIEFS
Police in standoff with armed man

Advertiser Staff

Maui police last night evacuated about 100 residents of the Harbor Lights apartment complex in Kahului because of a standoff with an armed resident. One shot was fired but no one was hurt, a Maui County spokeswoman said.

Kahului Beach Road was closed at 5 p.m. between Ka'ahumanu Avenue and Wahine Pio Avenue. Police reopened the road shortly after 10 p.m. but the standoff was continuing late last night.

Red Cross workers and county Parks Department staff opened an emergency shelter at the War Memorial Gym for the residents. Polynesian Adventure Tours helped take residents to the shelter.

The standoff began at 4:45 p.m. when police arrived to serve a 30-year-old man with a warrant, police Lt. Wallace Tom said. After noticing the officers, the man ran into an apartment in the complex's "D" building, where he is believed to be a resident.

Police said the man retrieved a shotgun and a pistol and fired one round. Police sealed off the area. No one else was believed to be inside the apartment.



MEETING ON HANA SKYDIVE PROPOSAL

HANA, Maui — The state Department of Transportation will host a community meeting from 5 to 7 p.m. today in Hana to discuss a proposal for Skydive Hawaii to operate at Hana Airport.

Skydive Hawaii, based at Dillingham Airfield on O'ahu, has not filed a formal request to use the airport for parachuting activities, DOT spokesman Scott Ishikawa said. However, the company has expressed interest in doing so, he said.

The company could not be contacted yesterday to comment. Skydive Hawaii president Frank Hinshaw is expected to make a presentation at today's meeting.

Ishikawa said the state is concerned about allowing skydiving operations at Hana Airport because of the potential for increased aircraft noise, since homes are within a mile of the airport. Safety is another concern "because of the fickle weather out there," he said.

A glider operation uses the East Maui airport, but there are no skydiving companies on Maui.



$500,000 BAIL SET IN ALLEGED ATTACK

A Mainland transient with no permanent address in Hawai'i is being held on $500,000 bail.

Joseph R. Joyce, 42, is accused of second-degree attempted murder for allegedly pushing a security guard through a 26th-floor window at a building on University Avenue.

The charges allege that on Friday afternoon Joyce pushed 63-year-old John Lopis through the window and lifted Lopis' feet off the ground, but that the broken window pane and frame kept the guard from falling.

Lopis was responding to a report of trouble in the building. Police say 77-year-old James Winchester was attacked with a fire extinguisher when he came out in response to banging in the hallway.

Joyce has been charged with second-degree attempted murder and assault, first-degree burglary and first-degree terroristic threatening.



MOTHER ACCUSED OF CHOKING BABY

Police arrested a 26-year-old woman Sunday night for allegedly choking her 3-year-old daughter in Aliamanu.

The child became unresponsive and was taken to Kaiser Moanalua Medical Center, where she was in serious condition, police said yesterday.

The woman was arrested at 8:25 p.m. Sunday on suspicion of attempted second-degree murder.



THREE SEXUAL-ASSAULT SUSPECTS RELEASED

Police released three men yesterday morning who were arrested early Saturday morning on suspicion of kidnapping and sexual assault.

According to the complaint, the men, ages 26, 23 and 19, together with a 16-year-old boy, were arrested at 3:15 a.m. Saturday on South Beretania and Alakea streets after a woman, 43, told police she was sexually assaulted by one or possibly two of them near the state Capitol.

The woman told police she was befriended at a bus stop by two men and lured to a grassy area near the government buildings. They were joined there by two other males. The woman said she was held down by two men while being attacked.

The juvenile suspect is being held at the Alder Street detention facility.



FOUR SUSPECTED OF WRITING GRAFFITI

An adult and three juvenile males were arrested Sunday night in Waipahu after an off-duty police officer spotted them allegedly writing graffiti.

The officer called police, which led to the arrest at 9 p.m. of a 21-year-old man and three boys, ages 16, 13 and 13, for fourth-degree criminal property damage. The suspects were allegedly writing graffiti in a drainage canal ditch at Waipahu and Leoku streets.



TWO CHARGED WITH STEALING TRACTOR

Prosecutors yesterday charged two men in connection with the alleged theft of a front-end loader in Pearl City.

Ju Young Woo, 33, and Troy E.K. Griep, 44, were each accused of first-degree theft and were being held in lieu of $50,000 and $25,000 bail, respectively, pending an appearance today at District Court.

Police arrested Woo and Griep Saturday night after the tractor's owner told police of a tip on where the loader could be found.