FL MORRIS / FMORRIS@STARBULLETIN.COM
The suspect in a bank robbery yesterday was finally arrested at 312 Ohua St. in Waikiki after a long chase. The suspect ran from Kapahulu through the Ala Wai Golf Course, then swam across the Ala Wai Canal in an attempt to evade his pursuers.
Robbery suspect
caught after swimming
in Ala Wai CanalPolice arrest the man in a trash
bin after a veritable steeplechase
A Kapahulu bank robbery suspect's getaway resembled an Olympic event yesterday afternoon.
The male suspect allegedly robbed the First Hawaiian Bank at 433 Kapahulu Ave., then ran across the Ala Wai Golf Course, swam across the Ala Wai Canal and jumped into a trash bin behind an Ohua Avenue apartment building, where he was arrested, police said.
"He had inspiration," said HPD Sgt. Rich Robinson.
Police said the robbery occurred a little before 4:30 p.m. when the suspect allegedly walked into the bank and told employees that he was armed, though no weapon was seen.
The suspect left the bank and crossed the street, climbing over the fence that borders the Ala Wai Golf Course on Kapahulu Avenue.
Golf course workers said they saw the suspect running across the green and toward golfers at the driving range before making a left toward the canal.
"I saw him jogging through and he ripped his shirt off, buttons flying everywhere," said Ala Wai Driving Range employee Nick Tanjuakio, who was practicing at the driving range on his day off. "I saw he had this package stuffed behind in his shorts."
"I thought he stole something from the (driving range) shop here, but then I didn't see anybody from the inside chasing him. ... I knew something was up."
Police said the suspect then jumped into the canal and swam to the other side to Ala Wai and Ohua Avenue. Witnesses saw him run behind a building at 314 Ohua Ave.
"I looked right out through my window and saw this guy jump in this trash Dumpster," said Saul Garcia, who lives nearby. "I didn't know if this guy lived there or what.
"Then I saw cops come with their guns drawn, and if they passed him I was going to say something, but they found him on their own."
Robinson said police were able to respond quickly because they received calls from people in the bank while the robbery was occurring.
"They knew there was a robbery going on," Robinson said. "Some other witnesses chased after him when he left.
"By the time he hid in the Dumpster, we were right behind him already."
The man was arrested on suspicion of bank robbery. This was the 25th bank robbery on Oahu this year, compared with 10 at the same time last year.
