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HPD 100 percent in murder, bank robbery closures | The Honolulu Advertiser | Hawaii's Newspaper
Updated at 8:15 p.m., Friday, July 4, 2008

HPD 100 percent in murder, bank robbery closures

By Rod Ohira
Advertiser Staff

HOMICIDE, BANK ROBBERY CLOSURES

HPD CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS DIVISION

• Commander: Maj. Carlton Nishimura.

• Violent crimes: Capt. Richard Robinson.

• Homicides: Supervisor — Lt. William Kato. Detectives — Theodore “Ted” Coons, Sheryl Sunia, Roland Takasato, Randal Nakamura, Greg McCormick, Kenneth Higa, Derrick Kiyotoki, Brian Johnson.

• Robbery: Supervisor — Lt. Britt Nishijo. Detectives — Taro Nakamura, Deena Thoemmes, Gordon Makishima, Bryan Hew, Victor Lau, Tanya Tano, Jaynelle Toguchi, Aaron Young.

2008 HOMICIDE CLOSURES

• Jan. 9: Jenny T. Hartsock, 39, stabbed to death at 757 Gulick Ave. in Kalihi. Suspect: Husband Roy William Hartsock, 40, charged Jan. 11, $1 million bail.

• Jan. 16: Janel Tupuola, 30, beaten to death on Maluniu Avenue in Kailua. Suspect: Alapeti Siuanu Tunoa Jr., 30, charged Jan. 18, $1 million bail. awaiting trial.

• Jan. 17: Cyrus Nainoa Tupai‘i Belt, 23 months, thrown from Miller Street overpass onto H-1 Freeway in Punchbowl. Suspect: Matthew M. Higa, 23, charged Jan. 19, $1 million bail.

• March 27: Jermaine Michael Duckworth, 24, shot in back of head, execution style; body found at Keawaula Beach (Yokohama Bay) in Wai‘anae. Suspect: Patrick W. Deguair Jr., 30, charged April 5, $1 million bail.

• April 25: Murder/suicide. Domingo “Bunny” Dikito, 39, shot wife Della, 38, and shot himself at 91-1635 Kaukolu St. in ‘Ewa.

• May17: Ned Nakoa Jr., died May 18 from injuries suffered in Waikiki beating. Suspect: Kelii Donovan Acasia, 19, indicted May 21, $1 million bail.

• May 26: Murder/suicide. Eliseo Dumlao, 60, shot wife Marissa, 45, then shot himself at 990801 Halawa Heights Road, Apartment 4.

• June 8: Steven Wilcox, 19, stabbed outside Club Komomai in Kane‘ohe. Suspect: Glenn J. Keohokapu Jr., indicted June 12, $300,000 bail.

• July 2. Double murder/suicide, Grineline James, 39, and Michael James Jr., 7, killed at 95-1042 Mo‘ohele St. in Mililani Mauka by Michael James, 43.

2008 BANK ROBBERY CLOSURES

• Jan. 2: American Savings Bank-McCully. Charged: Ellis Cleveland.

• Jan. 3: Hawaii National Bank-Dillingham. Charged: William Avian Mara III.

• Jan. 3: American Savings Bank-Waipahu. Charged: William Avian Mara III.

• Jan. 11: American Savings Bank-Waipahu. Charged: Richard K. Talumi.

• Jan. 14: American Savings Bank-‘Ewa Town Center. Charged: Richard K. Talumi.

• Jan. 23, American Savings Bank-Kalihi. Charged: Justin Waihea Tilton.

• Feb. 5: American Savings Bank-Pearl Ridge.Charged: William Allen Lowry.

• Apr. 7: Territorial Savings-Downtown. Charged: William J. Foley.

• Apr. 11: American Savings Bank-Ala Moana. Charged: William J. Foley.

• Apr. 21: First Hawaiian Bank-Liliha. Charged: William J. Foley.

HPD CRIMINAL INVESTIGATIONS DIVISION

• Commander: Maj. Carlton Nishimura.

• Violent crimes: Capt. Richard Robinson.

• Homicides: Supervisor — Lt. William Kato. Detectives — Theodore “Ted” Coons, Sheryl Sunia, Roland Takasato, Randal Nakamura, Greg McCormick, Kenneth Higa, Derrick Kiyotoki, Brian Johnson.

• Robbery: Supervisor — Lt. Britt Nishijo. Detectives — Taro Nakamura, Deena Thoemmes, Gordon Makishima, Bryan Hew, Victor Lau, Tanya Tano, Jaynelle Toguchi, Aaron Young.

2008 HOMICIDE CLOSURES

• Jan. 9: Jenny T. Hartsock, 39, stabbed to death at 757 Gulick Ave. in Kalihi. Suspect: Husband Roy William Hartsock, 40, charged Jan. 11, $1 million bail.

• Jan. 16: Janel Tupuola, 30, beaten to death on Maluniu Avenue in Kailua. Suspect: Alapeti Siuanu Tunoa Jr., 30, charged Jan. 18, $1 million bail. awaiting trial.

• Jan. 17: Cyrus Nainoa Tupai‘i Belt, 23 months, thrown from Miller Street overpass onto H-1 Freeway in Punchbowl. Suspect: Matthew M. Higa, 23, charged Jan. 19, $1 million bail.

• March 27: Jermaine Michael Duckworth, 24, shot in back of head, execution style; body found at Keawaula Beach (Yokohama Bay) in Wai‘anae. Suspect: Patrick W. Deguair Jr., 30, charged April 5, $1 million bail.

• April 25: Murder/suicide. Domingo “Bunny” Dikito, 39, shot wife Della, 38, and shot himself at 91-1635 Kaukolu St. in ‘Ewa.

• May17: Ned Nakoa Jr., died May 18 from injuries suffered in Waikiki beating. Suspect: Kelii Donovan Acasia, 19, indicted May 21, $1 million bail.

• May 26: Murder/suicide. Eliseo Dumlao, 60, shot wife Marissa, 45, then shot himself at 990801 Halawa Heights Road, Apartment 4.

• June 8: Steven Wilcox, 19, stabbed outside Club Komomai in Kane‘ohe. Suspect: Glenn J. Keohokapu Jr., indicted June 12, $300,000 bail.

• July 2. Double murder/suicide, Grineline James, 39, and Michael James Jr., 7, killed at 95-1042 Mo‘ohele St. in Mililani Mauka by Michael James, 43.

2008 BANK ROBBERY CLOSURES

• Jan. 2: American Savings Bank-McCully. Charged: Ellis Cleveland.

• Jan. 3: Hawaii National Bank-Dillingham. Charged: William Avian Mara III.

• Jan. 3: American Savings Bank-Waipahu. Charged: William Avian Mara III.

• Jan. 11: American Savings Bank-Waipahu. Charged: Richard K. Talumi.

• Jan. 14: American Savings Bank-‘Ewa Town Center. Charged: Richard K. Talumi.

• Jan. 23, American Savings Bank-Kalihi. Charged: Justin Waihea Tilton.

• Feb. 5: American Savings Bank-Pearl Ridge.Charged: William Allen Lowry.

• Apr. 7: Territorial Savings-Downtown. Charged: William J. Foley.

• Apr. 11: American Savings Bank-Ala Moana. Charged: William J. Foley.

• Apr. 21: First Hawaiian Bank-Liliha. Charged: William J. Foley.

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The reward for 100 percent closure of homicides and bank robberies in 2008 is satisfaction for Honolulu police investigators, whose work often goes unrecognized in public.

The two investigative bodies, each with eight detectives supervised by a lieutenant, are 10-for-10 in closures as of the Fourth of July.

Skills sharpened by experience, attention to detail in processing a scene and presenting cases for prosecution, and the ability to communicate are characteristics of the two units, homicide supervised by Lt. William Kato and robberies headed by Lt. Britt Nishijo, who also oversees the supplemental Strategic Enforcement Detail. Both lieutenants report to Criminal Investigations Division commander Maj. Carlton Nishimura and Capt. Richard Robinson, head of violent crimes investigations.

"They know how to cooperate and collaborate," Chief Boisse Correa said of the investigators, "and we have community support in that people here are not afraid to get involved."

Honolulu Prosecuting Attorney Peter Carlise, whose office works with homicide investigators since bank robberies are prosecuted federally, said, "They establish in almost all instances a good rapport with survivors that couldn't have been more appropriate than in the recent Masumi Watanabe case."

Annual robbery statistics were not immediately available but police have closed 48 of 54 homicides since 2005: 18-for 20 in 2007, 17 of 18 in 2006 and 13 of 16 in 2005.

"It has been historically good," Carlise said of homicide closures.

Criminal investigations is blessed with good investigators with experience who know how to process a scene, Nishimura said.

Nishimura added that investigators work closely with patrol officers and other units, such as Criminal Intelligence. But it's the ability to communicate, he feels, that makes the biggest difference.

"They are really able to get people to talk to them and provide information," Nishimura said.

Reach Rod Ohira at rohira@honoluluadvertiser.com.

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