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Police will meet prosecutors this week to decide what charges can be brought against the Kalihi man who allegedly drove the wrong way on the H-1 Freeway last month and caused a seven-car pileup. Charges mulled in H-1 7-car crash
By Jaymes K. Song, Star-BulletinDetectives questioned Benny Belleza for the first time yesterday in his room at Queen's Hospital, but he did not give a statement, police said.
According to his wife, Victoria, Belleza is improving but has a hard time communicating. He was listed in fair condition yesterday.
"He can hardly talk," she said. "He has injuries to the head, legs, hands and ribs."
Belleza, 56, has been in the hospital since the crash near the Ward Avenue overpass on the morning of Jan. 18.
Before the crash, Belleza reportedly held a knife and a crucifix and displayed them to several people in Kalihi and at Kapiolani Hospital, where his wife works.
His wife said she was in the Philippines aiding to an ill relative at the time of the crash. She said she was shocked when she found out what happened.
Police said they are investigating whether Belleza posed an "imminent threat" with the knife, or whether he just brandished it.
He can face at least two counts of first-degree terroristic threatening, various traffic offenses and be arrested when he is released from the hospital, as early as next week.
The family of a man fatally wounded by a Honolulu police officer in May 1998 is suing the city, alleging civil rights violations. Family of man fatally shot
by police in 1998 files suitThe suit was filed yesterday in federal court by attorneys Stacy Moniz and Myles Breiner. The suit says at the time of the shooting, police had no probable cause to believe Fortunato Barques III had committed a crime or that he posed a threat of probable harm to anyone in the vicinity.
The lawsuit contends that deadly force was "unjustified, unlawful, unnecessary, unreasonable, excessive and outrageous."
The suit was filed on behalf of Jodi Rae Escott Barques and Bonnie Goldstein, the guardians of minor children Brandon James Kalani Barques and Brittani Michelle Kauhane Barques. Mark Boyce and other unnamed police officers also are named as defendants in the suit.
Barques was shot at least twice in the back by police in Pupukea.
City attorneys will argue that Barques was armed with a handgun in a "upside-down" shoulder holster with the handle of the weapon at waist level, and that he was walking away from the officer, ignoring orders to stop.
The officer saw the holster and fired when the suspect's hand allegedly moved toward it.
Public hearings will begin Tuesday on rules that cover the operation of motor vehicles and public conduct at state airports. Public hearings Tuesday
on airport rulesA state Transportation Department spokeswoman said the hearings are on "housekeeping" changes in language in the rules. The hearings are as follows:
Oahu: 9 a.m. Tuesday, Honolulu Interisland Terminal seventh-floor conference center.
Native moth put on list of endangered species
The largest native insect in Hawaii, Blackburn's sphinx moth, has been given endangered species status.The U.S. Fishery and Wildlife Service announced that it has included the moth in a rule published yesterday in the Federal Registry. The moth is considered endangered because it is the prey of non-native ants and wasps and because there are diminishing sources of the dry-land plants on which it feeds in its caterpillar stage.
The gray-and-orange insect with a 5-inch wingspan was once on all Hawaiian islands but has only been seen in recent years on Maui, Hawaii and Kahoolawe.
Hilo man, 90, missing since Monday night
HILO -- Authorities are searching for Masaki Sonomura, 90, missing from his home in the Puakaa area of Hilo since Monday night, police said.Founder of M. Sonomura Contracting Co., Sonomura was last seen at his home at 11:30 p.m. Monday, they said.
Ground and air searches by police and fire rescue personnel began at daybreak yesterday. The only description of Sonomura's clothing was that he was wearing an oversize green T-shirt.
Family members told police Sonomura was taking antibiotics and medication for blood pressure and high cholesterol but was in good mental health.
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffHonolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
Kaneohe man, 85, dies in fire at his home
An 85-year-old man died in a fire last night at 45-724 Kalamalo Place in Kaneohe's Kapunahala subdivision.Firefighters said the man was found in a hallway and had apparently tried to escape the fire.
The fire also burned an adjacent similar single-story wooden frame home.
The cause of the fire was under investigation. Danage is estimated at $400,000 for both homes.
The Red Cross was providing assistance to two adults who lived at that home. They got out safely with no injuries.
The garage of the dead man's residence also was burned out, and two vehicles were damaged. Fire Capt. Richard Soo said the first firefighters arrived at 8:31, and the fire was already well under way.
Six fire companies and 28 firefighters responded, Soo said. Totally extinguishing the fire was a slow process.
"The problem is the fire is in the roof and the roof is unstable," Soo said.
Three hooded gunmen rob Pearl City business
Police were searching for three armed and hooded men who robbed a Pearl City business early this morning.Three men entered the business at 826 Kamehameha Highway and demanded money from the cashier at 12:35 a.m., police said. Two men took the money while one man acted as a lookout, they said.
The men fled on foot with an undetermined amount of cash.
Bones at Blaisdell Park part of ancient burial
The human skeletal remains found Sunday at Blaisdell Park in Pearl City were determined to be part of an ancient burial.The bones are at least 50 years old and could date back to the 19th century, said archelogist Sarah Collins of the state Department of Land and Natural Resources.
Collins said the remains could have been unearthed by erosion and the tide washing into the burial area.
Leads sought in theft of BBQ chicken truck
Police are asking for help in apprehending the suspect who stole a barbecue chicken truck.The Koala Moa Chicken flat bed truck was stolen in the East Honolulu area on Jan. 8, police said.
The truck was later recovered on Middle Street in Kalihi, but $15,000 worth of equipment inside the truck was missing.
If you have information about the theft, call CrimeStoppers at 955-8300.
