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Newswatch
Star-Bulletin staff and wire service
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2 face copper theft charges
Authorities charged two men with second-degree theft under the new copper law, which passed this year. The two allegedly stole copper in unrelated cases -- one from a golf course, the other from a construction site at a military housing.
The law enacted in June defines stealing a pound or more of copper as second-degree theft, a Class C felony, punishable by 5 years in prison.
Faleifa N. Mauga, 38, made his initial court appearance yesterday. He was charged Friday with one count of second-degree theft.
Mauga was arrested Thursday for allegedly stealing copper from Camp Catlin Military Housing, where police had set up surveillance.
According to a police affidavit, officers saw Mauga allegedly grabbing items off the ground and carrying pipes from the garage of a house scheduled for demolition and putting them into a pile.
Diamantino Reis was charged Thursday with second-degree criminal property damage and two counts of second-degree theft for allegedly taking copper wiring from the West Loch Golf Courses on two occasions: from Sept. 8-9 and again from Sept. 11-12.
Reis was arraigned Friday.
Takamine to run for state Senate
HILO » Big Island Rep. Dwight Takamine, a member of the state House of Representatives since 1984, has announced his candidacy for the state Senate.
A Democrat, Takamine will vacate the 1st District House post, which covers North Hilo, Hamakua and North Kohala, and run for the 1st District Senate seat, which covers the same area but also includes Waimea and most of Hilo. The Senate seat will be vacated by incumbent Lorraine Inouye, who has announced plans to run for mayor.
Takamine was chairman of the House Finance Committee from 1999 to 2006. He was previously chairman of the Water and Land Use Planning Committee from 1993 to 1998 and chairman of the House Committee on Labor and Public Employment from 1987 to 1992.
A graduate of Honokaa High School, the University of Hawaii and the William S. Richardson School of Law, he maintains a law office in Hilo.
Killed officer was following rules
Police investigators found the motorcycle officer who died after crashing during a presidential motorcade last year was in compliance with escort procedures.
Steve Favela, 30, and two other officers -- Domingo Manog and Johnny Bahng, crashed Nov. 21 on O'Malley Boulevard at Hickam Air Force Base while escorting President Bush.
Police said the officers lost control of their motorcycles while traveling around a bend in the wet roadway.
"All the officers in the motorcade were found to be in compliance with the procedures for dignitary escort," said Honolulu Police Department spokesman Capt. Frank Fujii.
Favela died Nov. 26 after suffering severe injuries to his right hip and upper thigh. He lost large amounts of blood and received a massive blood transfusion. He died after multiple organ failure.
Favela was the 12th HPD solo bike officer to die in the line of duty.
The U.S. Secret Service did not conduct any investigation into the accident, as had been reported by other news media, and it was a local police matter, said Secret Service Special Agent-in-Charge Albert Joaquin.
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Police, Fire, Courts
Star-Bulletin staff
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CENTRAL OAHU
Police seek man in kidnap attempt
Police are looking for a man who allegedly tried to kidnap a teenage girl who was on her way to school in Mililani yesterday morning.
The girl was about a block from Mililani High School when an unknown man in his 20s or 30s wearing a hooded sweatshirt approached her from behind, police said.
The incident occurred at 7:05 a.m. at Anania Drive and Puanane Loop.
The man tried to start a conversation, which quickly turned to a sexual nature, police said. The girl told the man she did not want to talk to him, and he then allegedly grabbed her forearm and tried to push her into some bushes, police said.
The girl fought back, broke free from his grip and ran, police said.
Police have made no arrests.
Police said the man was on foot and that no vehicle was seen by the girl.
The man is described as 5 feet 10 inches tall, with a slim build. He was wearing sunglasses and a gray hooded sweatshirt, with the hood worn over his head at the time of the alleged attempted kidnapping.
LEEWARD OAHU
Tip leads to men with gun in vehicle
Police arrested four men early yesterday after an anonymous caller reported seeing one holding a shotgun in Maili.
The caller told police there were two suspicious vehicles parked at Maili Beach Park. At about 12:45 a.m., officers stopped one vehicle matching the description given. Officers searched the car and found a loaded 870 Remington shotgun on the floor, police said.
A 27-year-old Makaha man, a 36-year-old Ewa man, a 25-year-old Waianae man and a 28-year-old man were arrested on suspicion of carrying a loaded firearm on a public highway.