Newswatch

By Star-Bulletin Staff

Monday, December 8, 1997

Chemist injured in UH explosion

The University of Hawaii-Manoa is re-evaluating its handling of hazardous materials after a flask of perchloric acid exploded and injured a chemist today.

Mark Furnish of Pacific Environmental Corp. was injured after the pint of acid ignited spontaneously and exploded. Furnish, a mainland chemist, was under contract to identify unknown chemicals stored at the UH Environmental Protection Facility when the 8:40 a.m. accident occurred.

Perchloric acid is a colorless, liquid acid that is a strong oxidizing agent. Its concentrated solutions can form explosive mixtures with other agents and is used in analytical chemistry, such as the making of solid propellants.

The discarded chemicals are from Manoa researchers and lab classes.

UH officials said Furnish, 38, was treated for glass cuts to his right hand and acid burns on his leg. Straub Hospital officials said he also suffered minor fume inhalation. He was expected to be released this afternoon.

Modafferi faces federal drug charges

FBI evidence into alleged drug use by Gary Modafferi includes videotape that shows the former city deputy prosecuting attorney smoking crystal methamphetamine.

According to an affidavit filed today in federal court by FBI agent Douglas S. Hart, the 38-year-old Honolulu attorney was filmed smoking "ice" this year at two separate Waikiki hotels -- Oct. 3 at the Outrigger Malia Hotel and Oct. 17 at the Royal Garden Hotel.

The investigation began Sept. 9 when an unidentified "cooperating witness" turned over a prescription pill known as zolpidem tartrate to the FBI.

The person claims to have received the pill in mid-August from Modafferi, according to Hart's affidavit.

Modafferi is charged with knowingly and intentionally distributing .69 gram of crystal methamphetamine, or "ice," in Hawaii, possession of crystal meth, and distributing zolpidem tartrate.

Suspect tried to hire a killer, police say

A 37-year-old Kalihi man is being held in lieu of $1 million bail after being charged last night with attempted first-degree murder stemming from a murder-for-hire conspiracy.

Hung Van Huynh of 524 Kaaahi St. is also charged with being a felon in possession of a firearm and ammunition. Huynh was arraigned today in District Court.

Huynh was arrested at 11:19 p.m. Friday at a fast-food restaurant on North Nimitz Highway. That's when he allegedly gave an undercover officer the final installment of a $5,000 contract to kill a 24-year-old Vietnamese competitor in the local shark-fin fishing business, said homicide Detective Anderson Hee.

Honolulu Police Department's gang detail had received information on the day after Thanksgiving about the alleged "hit" and set up a cover operation, Hee added.

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Police/Fire


By Star-Bulletin staff

Armored-car robbery suspect in court today

A 36-year-old man who attempted to rob an armored car in Waikiki on Friday was scheduled to appear today in federal court.

Clarence Sardinha is charged with one count of violating the Hobbs Act, which prohibits the interference of interstate commerce through robbery or extortion.

Sardinha, who was captured shortly after the robbery, was charged Saturday by the FBI.

26-year-old accused of stalking woman

Police yesterday charged a 26-year-old man with aggravated harassment by stalking for violating a "stay-away" order.

Daniel Nowick of 51-709 Kamehameha Highway has a prior conviction for harassing and stalking the same woman. He is being held in lieu of $25,000 bail.

Pair of men arrested in separate sex assaults

A 27-year-old Mililani man was charged by police yesterday on multiple sex assault counts for an alleged attack on a woman Saturday morning.

John Dirienzo of a Lauawa Street address is charged with two counts each of first- and third-degree sex assault and one count of attempted first-degree sex assault.

He is being held in lieu of $160,000 bail.

Police, meanwhile, arrested a 44-year-old Moiliili man Saturday for questioning about sexual assault offenses against a 10-year-old relative.

The girl told police she was sexually abused by the man on several occasions.

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