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Police, Fire, Courts



By Star-Bulletin staff

WINDWARD OAHU

Police say woman admits embezzlement

Police arrested a former treasurer for a youth soccer organization after she allegedly admitted to embezzling thousands of dollars over the last two years.

The 37-year-old woman turned herself in to Kaneohe police at 9 a.m. Wednesday after being contacted by detectives investigating the case. Police said the woman admitted to writing between $35,000 and $40,000 in checks from the American Youth Soccer Organization and depositing them into her own account from June 2003 to August 2004.

Police arrested the woman Wednesday for investigation of first-degree theft. She was later released pending further investigation.

Female hiker rescued after falling on trail

Fire personnel rescued an injured female hiker in her 40s from a hiking trail behind Koolau Golf Course in Kaneohe yesterday.

The woman was hiking with a group of people along a trail when she tripped and fell about 4:30 p.m. yesterday, her companions told fire rescuers, fire Capt. Emmit Kane said.

Firefighters hiked about 20 minutes and found the woman in fairly good condition, but she was unable to walk, suffering "intense and extreme pain" to her lower left leg, Kane said.

Two rescue personnel flew in and walked the woman to the helicopter. She was airlifted to Koolau Golf Course. She was taken to Castle Medical Center in stable condition, Kane said.

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS

Collision on Big Isle kills 1 and injures 4

HILO » A 53-year-old woman died in a three-car accident on Hawaii Belt Road eight miles north of Hilo on Wednesday.

The woman was driving a 1992 Honda sedan toward Hilo about 7:23 p.m. when she crossed the center line, sideswiped a 2000 Toyota sedan, hit a guardrail and was hit by an oncoming 2003 Mazda sedan, police said.

The 49-year-old woman driving the sideswiped Toyota was treated and released. The 36-year-old woman driving the Mazda and two female passengers, aged 15 and 16, were all taken to Hilo Hospital, where they were listed in critical condition.

The cause of the crash is under investigation. The victim's death brings the Big Island traffic toll to 13 for the year compared to 17 at the same time last year.

Maui woman, 39, dies in 1-car crash

WAILUKU » A 39-year-old Maui resident died in a one-car vehicle crash in Kihei.

Janalyn K. Kanae-Gillian was driving northwest on Kenolio Road when her car drifted onto the southwest shoulder and struck a mailbox and hollow tile wall about 4:44 p.m. Wednesday.

Kanae-Gillian, who was wearing a seat belt, was taken to Maui Memorial Medical Center where she was pronounced dead, police traffic investigator Ericlee Correa said.

Hilo residents warned of 3 theft suspects

Big Island police are warning residents of Hilo's Kaumana area to be on the lookout for three men who fled from a stolen car that crashed into another vehicle Wednesday.

The incident began about 2 p.m. when a patrol officer driving up Kaumana Drive near Chong Street spotted a 2004 four-door Cadillac heading in the opposite direction. The officer recognized the vehicle as being reported stolen and tried to turn his car around, but by the time he did so, he lost sight of the stolen car, police said.

As the officer was driving down Kaumana, he came upon the scene of a car crash involving the stolen car at Kaumana Drive, Ainako Avenue and the Mohouli Extension. Police said the three suspects in the stolen car fled the scene on foot into the underbrush.

Police said the suspects were shirtless and are possibly armed and dangerous. The injured occupant of the second car was taken to the Hilo Medical Center for treatment.

The police helicopter was called in to search for the three suspects in the Wainaku area but was unsuccessful. Police said the Cadillac was stolen Tuesday night from a Wainaku residence and that the keys to the vehicle had been stolen during a burglary several days before.

Anyone with information is asked to call the police nonemergency number at 935-3311.

HONOLULU

Wife arrested in alleged knife attack

Police arrested a 55-year-old woman after she allegedly threw knives at her husband early yesterday.

Police said the incident took place about 1 a.m. in the couple's Spencer Street apartment in Makiki while they were arguing. Police said the suspect grabbed three kitchen knives and threw them at her 59-year-old husband.

Police said two of the knives missed, but that the third one hit him in the back of his head. Police did not release information about whether the knife injured the husband.

The victim fled and called police, who arrested the suspect for investigation of second-degree assault.

WAIKIKI

3 men sought in robbery of tourists

Police are looking for three men who allegedly robbed two Japanese tourists at gunpoint just after midnight yesterday.

The victims, both 25 years old, met one of the suspects Monday night and befriended him, according to police. Then last night the suspect, along with two other men, went to the victims' hotel room in Waikiki.

After entering the room, two of the suspects allegedly pulled out handguns and demanded money. The suspects also searched the room and took cash and other items before leaving.

The two suspects who had the guns were described as in their early 20s.

The first suspect was described as being about 6 feet tall, about 180 pounds, with a slim to medium build and black hair. He was wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, black jeans and black shoes.

The second suspect was described as 5 foot 6, weighing between 150 and 160 pounds, with an average build. He wore a black bandana on his head, a black sweatshirt, black pants and black boots.The third suspect was described as in his early 20s, about 5 foot 6, weighing 160 to 170 pounds, with a heavy build, hazel eyes and bald. He was wearing a white bandana, white T-shirt and blue jeans.