HILO — A Hilo girl died yesterday afternoon in a drowning at an apartment building and her stepfather was arrested for suspected abuse, police said today.

Police and fire paramedics responded shortly after 3 p.m. to a report of a home accident at the Hilo Valhala Apartments at 120 Puueo Street. An ambulance took the girl, described as 3 to 7 years old, to Hilo Medical Center, where she later died, according to Hilo police.
“I’m afraid she expired,” police Lt. Greg Esteban said shortly after 6 p.m. He did not identify the girl or her age.
Hawaii County police this morning identified the suspect as Anthony Poulin, 30.
He was arrested at the three-story apartment building. Police could not say this morning whether the reported drowning took place in a bathtub or by some other means.
Sgt. Aubrey Auna said at the scene that Poulin was being investigated for suspected abuse of the girl.
“He's being questioned by detectives ... ,” Esteban said. Poulin has not yet been charged, police said.
Neighbors said Poulin was alone with the girl and a dog in a second-story apartment. They said the girl's mother worked 12-hour shifts as a caregiver and was not home when the abuse allegedly occurred.
"He's disabled and he's on medication," said first-floor resident Maile Rios.
Poulin was carrying a cane when arrested.
Rios and neighbor Roxann Fernandez said they did not know the girl's name.
"We called her 'Pretty Girl,' " Rios said. "We saw the ambulance guys doing CPR on her before they took her to the hospital."
"He was really nice to her when the mom was around," Fernandez said. "But he treated the dog better than he treated her. He would say the dog was smarter than she was."
The Hawaii Island Humane Society was called yesterday afternoon to pick up the dog, a half-grown female Doberman mix.
"My niece heard screaming," said next-door neighbor Lehua Lord, who pulled into the parking lot while police were securing the crime scene.
"Maybe if I'd gotten home earlier, I could have done something to save her," Lord added, tearfully.
———
Advertiser staff writer William Cole contributed to this report