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Newswatch
Police, Fire, Courts

By Star-Bulletin Staff

Friday, February 2, 2001

Singer Houston pays drug fine
but now risks guilty verdict

KEALAKEKUA, Hawaii -- The Hawaii County prosecutor's office is seeking to have singer-actress Whitney Houston resentenced for marijuana possession because she failed to provide a substance abuse assessment showing she is not using drugs.

In January of last year, less than half an ounce of marijuana and three partially smoked marijuana cigarettes were found in a handbag belonging to Houston while she was boarding a plane at Keahole airport in Kona, the prosecutor's office said. She abandoned the bag and departed on the plane.

In November, her attorneys entered a no contest plea to a petty misdemeanor charge of marijuana possession. District Judge Joseph Florendo deferred acceptance of the plea for three months.

As part of her sentence, Houston was required to pay $4,025 in fines, fees, and donations, which she has done.

But because she has not provided the assessment, the prosecutor is seeking to set aside the plea and have a guilty judgment entered against her.

No date for a hearing on the motion was announced.

Florida firm fighting Army's Hawaii contract

A Florida defense contractor is protesting the decision by a military appeals board that stripped it of a contract to provide transportation, supply and maintenance service at Schofield Barracks, Fort Shafter and Pohakuloa on the Big Island.

BAE Systems of Fort Walton Beach, Fla., met yesterday's deadline to file a protest with the General Accounting Office against a decision by the U.S. Army Pacific Administrative Appeals Board Jan. 19.

The contract affects more than 200 civilian workers at the state's three major Army posts; they could lose their jobs if the Florida company prevails.

BAE's bid for the five-year contract was $1.4 million lower than the one submitted by the employees of the Directorate of Logistics at Schofield Barracks.

The GAO now has 100 days to review the protest, said Maria Santiago Lillis, spokeswoman for the International Association of Machinists & Aerospace Workers, Local 1998,whose union was one of two that appealed the Army's initial Oct. 25 decision.

Tomorrow

Some events of interest

11:30 a.m.-11:30 p.m., Punahou School: Punahou Carnival.

Corrections The Legislature in 1999 passed Acts 244 and 286 that provide stiffer penalties for repeat misdemeanor and felony offenders. A story Wednesday incorrectly quoted Senate Judiciary Chairman Brian Kanno as saying such bills have not been passed. Kawika Winter, who is teaching a series of classes on 'awa, says contemporary Hawaiians are sometimes critical of today's commercial and recreational use of 'awa, which they view as having deep religious significance. Older Hawaiians, he says, have told him how the drink was used throughout traditional Hawaiian society, not just as part of the religion. An article Wednesday mischaracterized his statement. The phone number to book a seminar on selling to Department of Defense agencies is 523-2931. An incorrect number appeared yesterday in Hawaii Inc.

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Police, Fire, Courts



By Star-Bulletin staff

Honolulu Police Department Crimestoppers

Driver rams police car, pinning female officer

A police officer was pinned between two cars and fired a shot at two suspects during a stakeout in Makakilo last night, police said.

Police arrested two suspects, who were not hit by the officer's shot. The unidentified officer suffered leg injuries and was treated and released from the St. Francis West Medical Center.

The female officer was part of a plainclothes detail conducting a stakeout for a stolen Ford Mustang at 92-972 Panana St. Police spotted the suspects, a 21-year-old Ewa Beach woman and a 35-year-old Makakilo man, with a stolen Acura at about 5 p.m., police said.

Police tried to block the Acura, but the woman driver rammed the police car, pinning the officer between the two cars, according to a police report.

The officer identified herself and fired one round into the Acura. No one was hit. The suspect tried to ram the vehicle again, but was removed from the Acura.

The two suspects were arrested for first-degree attempted murder, criminal property damage, two auto thefts, possession of drugs and driving without a license.

Liliha florist, 77, robbed after sprayed in face

Police say a man entered a Liliha flower shop and sprayed a 77-year-old florist with mace or pepper spray, then stole her purse containing an undisclosed amount of cash, credit cards and checks yesterday.

Police canvassed the area and arrested a 23-year-old Kalihi man after the 11:35 a.m. incident.

By Craig T. Kojima, Star-Bulletin
The Red Cross is helping a family of five that was burned out
of its apartment at 1461 Dillingham Blvd. yesterday. Two
passing fire engines noticed the flames and stopped to put out
the fire. A 76-year-old babysitter and two children home at
the time escaped without injury. The fire apparently began
in a bedroom and caused $30,000 damage.

Child's fire play leads to blaze at Maili house

Investigators say a child playing with a lighter started a fire at a Maili house yesterday morning, according to fire Capt. Richard Soo.

The fire began in the bathroom of the master bedroom at 87-125 Kakalena St. off Farrington Highway.

The blaze caused $30,000 damage to the building and contents of the four-bedroom house, Soo said.