Police link man to bank heists
He was first accused in the attempted murder of a police officer
A man accused of attempting to run over a police officer who had found him sleeping in a car in a Chinatown parking lot, a drug pipe in view on the console, is a suspect in at least two bank robberies this month.
Kiley Yasuo Nakamura, 33, was arrested by Honolulu police for first-degree attempted murder Wednesday after he crashed a 2001 Ford Explorer while trying to elude police in a chase.
While being treated at the Queen's Medical Center, he allegedly said he fled because he was wanted for robbing some banks, according to court documents filed in U.S. District Court.
Nakamura was charged in a federal complaint yesterday with robbing the Beretania branch of Central Pacific Bank on Jan. 18 and the Kapahulu branch on Jan. 24. Cash taken in the two robberies totaled just over $4,000.
Police had been looking for Nakamura since Jan. 19, when an anonymous tipster called CrimeStoppers to report that he was responsible for the robbery the day before.
During questioning, Nakamura admitted to police that he did indeed rob the Beretania Central Pacific Bank on Jan. 18 and the Kapahulu branch on Tuesday, and identified the demand notes that he used on both occasions.
Nakamura also admitted that he used crystal methamphetamine since 1986, had stopped smoking for a while, then began smoking crack cocaine a month ago.
On Jan. 20 the American Savings Bank in Kalihi was also robbed by an Asian male in his 20s wearing a white woman's wig, blue baseball cap, white long-sleeve shirt and black long pants over which he wore a multicolored dress and black shoes.
The complaint does not charge Nakamura with that robbery.
However, when Nakamura was arrested, police observed a white wig inside the SUV he had crashed. Federal prosecutors are expected to continue the investigation.
BANK ROBBER'S NOTES MAKE SPECIFIC THREATS AND DEMANDS
Here are notes used by a robber in three recent bank robberies:
» Jan. 18 note to teller at Beretania Street branch of Central Pacific Bank: "If you value your safety act normal. Put all the money in the bag and no one will get hurt! Thank you for your cooperation!! Bang bang"
» Jan. 20 note to a teller at the American Savings Bank in Kalihi: "If you value life you would cooperate and put all your cash in the bag." "Do not make a move." Robber also told teller, "Hurry up, I know you have the hundred bills."
» Jan. 24 note to a teller at the Kapahulu branch of Central Pacific Bank: "If you value your life you will stay calm. Put all the 100's, 50's, 20's, 10's, 5's in the bag. No one will get hurt. Have a nice day!! P.S. No dye packs no marked bills!!!"
Source: Taro Nakamura, Honolulu police officer deputized as a special deputy U.S. marshal
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