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Newswatch
Star-Bulletin staff and wire
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Tree roots and grease cause sewage spill
Tree roots and grease clogging an 8-inch sewer main are pegged as the cause of a 1,950-gallon sewage spill near lower Waialae Nui yesterday morning.
City workers responded to reports of raw sewage spewing out of a manhole in an easement behind a Hoakoa Place home about 8:15 a.m. The roots and grease were causing the waste water to back up in the pipe.
Some of the waste water entered a nearby storm drain and a drainage canal but none reached any beaches or coastal waters.
Crews stopped the spill from overflowing from the manhole, cleared the sewer pipe and disinfected the area by 11:30 a.m.
Warning signs have been posted at the drainage canal and the public is being advised to avoid the area. The state Department of Health has also been notified.
Club owner indicted in man's alleged assault
An Oahu grand jury has indicted the owner of two Waikiki nightclubs for the alleged sexual assault of a 30-year-old man.
The indictment yesterday charged Jack Law, owner of Wave Waikiki and Hula's Bar & Lei Stand, with three counts of second-degree sexual assault, a Class B felony that carries a maximum 10-year prison sentence.
Law is accused of engaging in sexual acts with the man after the man was given a spiked drink and was unable to defend himself, said Jim Fulton, a spokesman for the city Prosecutor's Office. The alleged May 21 assault happened at Law's home, Fulton said.
Law denies the accusation, said his attorney, Earle Partington.
Bail was set at $150,000. Fulton said an arrest warrant will be issued.
Park to close at 4 p.m. on New Year's Eve
The state's Pu'u 'Ualaka'a State Park, on Round Top Drive, will close at 4 p.m. Saturday, New Year's Eve.
The closure is to discourage the use of fireworks, which is prohibited in state parks.
The park will resume normal hours Sunday, opening at 7 a.m. and closing at 6:45 p.m.
Isle programs receive $800,000 federal grant
The federal government has given the University of Hawaii at West Oahu, Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center and Malama Recovery Program $800,000 over the next three years to build a new drug rehabilitation center and to help patients with recovery and job training.
The money from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development will be used to help construct a 2,040-square-foot facility at the Waianae health center.
The building cost is about $537,943. The grant will pay $471,600 of the construction cost. The remainder of the federal money will pay for programs for drug rehabilitation and job training.
The facility will provide clinical services for drug rehabilitation and work training and consultation services for Malama Recovery Program staff.
There will also be internship opportunities for UH-West Oahu students.
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staff
WEST OAHU
Woman allegedly hits man with meat cleaver
A 35-year-old Waipahu woman was arrested Monday after she allegedly struck a 52-year-old man with a meat cleaver at her Kiau Place home.
Police said the woman and the man were arguing when she allegedly grabbed a meat cleaver from the kitchen and hit the man with the dull side of the cleaver on his left shoulder and neck area about 7:20 p.m.
The man went outside and called police.
Meanwhile, the suspect fled, but police later found her at a Kukui Place apartment and arrested her on suspicion of second-degree assault.
LEEWARD OAHU
Sex assault suspected on 2-year-old girl
Police are investigating a sexual-assault case involving a 2-year-old girl in Waianae.
According to police, neighbors were baby-sitting the victim about 6 p.m. Monday when they noticed redness and swelling in her crotch area. An emergency room doctor said the injury could possibly be the result of sex assault.
State Child Protective Services and Honolulu police were notified, and the victim was taken to Kapiolani Medical Center for Women and Children to be examined. Police did not have any suspects.
Witness helps police find break-in suspect
Police arrested a 41-year-old man who was seen allegedly breaking into a rental car along Farrington Highway near Makaha Beach on Sunday.
A witness told police the suspect broke into the car, rummaged through it, then took off in another car. The witness gave police the license number of the other car. Officers found the suspect a short time later and arrested him for investigation of unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle.
WAIKIKI
3 arrested in assault on police officer
Police arrested three men in connection with an assault on a police officer in Waikiki on Monday night.
A patrol officer was responding to a report about a man yelling at people and cars in Waikiki when he spotted a man who appeared to be staggering on the roadway near 2211 Ala Wai Blvd. just before 8 p.m.
As the officer approached the man, two of the man's friends approached the officer and began to talk. During the conversation, the officer turned to look at the man and was allegedly punched in the face by him.
As the officer tried to arrest the man, the two friends intervened and physically restrained the officer, police said.
Other officers arrived and helped arrest the first man for investigation of first-degree assault on a police officer. The suspect's two friends were also each arrested for investigation of hindering prosecution.
