|
Newswatch
Star-Bulletin staff and wire service
|
Dog and crew clear final hurdle
A three-panel Mexican appellate court ruled yesterday that bounty hunter Duane "Dog" Chapman, his son Leland and colleague Tim Chapman cannot be extradited to Mexico, according to a news release issued by Chapman's spokeswoman.
Duane Chapman starred in the reality TV show "Dog the Bounty Hunter" and the show features, among others, son Leland and colleague Tim Chapman.
The trio were to be extradited to Mexico to face charges stemming from their capture of convicted rapist and Max Factor heir Andrew Luster.
Because bounty hunting is illegal in Mexico, the three were arrested after their capture of Luster in Puerto Vallarta in 2003.
The appellate court's decision is the final word and laid to rest for good the extradition case, according to the news release.
Knudsen resigns post at DOE
Greg Knudsen, for years the face and voice of the Department of Education as its spokesman, has resigned.
Knudsen, an Education Department employee for 18 years, declined to say why he resigned Thursday. Knudsen is chairman of the Hawaii Kai Neighborhood Board.
Sandra Goya from the Education Department's communications office will be acting spokeswoman until the department hires a new person for the job.
Lava encroaches on subdivision
HILO » A flow of chunky aa lava moved four-tenths 25 of a mile into the nearly deserted Royal Gardens subdivision yesterday, bringing it within a quarter-mile of the makeshift home of Dean Schneider, authorities said.
Schneider, whose home consists primarily of a platform and tarpaulins, was informed of the danger yesterday by officials who flew in by helicopter, said Duane Hosaka of Hawaii County Defense.
Officials also warned Jack Thompson, the only other resident of the area overrun by many previous flows. Thompson's more substantial house is in a side area of the massive subdivision, where lava might miss it.
The new flow is on top of other flows two decades old, said Jim Kauahikaua, head of the Hawaiian Volcano Observatory, who made a flight to the subdivision to observe conditions.
A small breakout of lava moved onto one of the subdivision's paved streets, but soon stalled, he said.
Trying to discourage any sightseers who might try to make the difficult trip out to the area, Kauahikaua warned that burning pavement produces hazardous fumes, and lava moving through vegetation creates methane explosions which can send rocks flying.
Princeville site runs afoul of EPA
PRINCEVILLE, Kauai » The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency has once again found that a Princeville construction project violated pollution laws.
It's the second time the EPA has found violations at the 257-unit time-share project, which is being built on behalf of Bali Hai Villas Ltd. The company was fined $15,000 for not having proper storm-water pollution controls in 2004.
In September, EPA investigators visited the site and found "inadequate controls" to keep soil, sediment and litter from running into the ocean, according to officials with the EPA in a news release.
The investigators cited deficiencies with the site's sediment trap, silt fences, litter control and other storm-water control measures, officials added.
The controls were supposed to be part of the project after the 2004 inspection found similar problems with the construction site.
The new order requires the company to install new soil stabilization and erosion controls, fix its silt fence, protect soil stockpiles from runoff, provide a contained and lined concrete wash area, and clean up litter at the site. The company also needs to produce bimonthly compliance reports and hire an independent inspector.
They could be liable for fines up to $32,000 per day per violation if the conditions aren't met, EPA officials said.
|
Police, Fire, Courts
Star-Bulletin staff
|
NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Hilo man missing since December
Big Island police are looking for a 37-year-old Hilo man missing since Dec. 20.
Bounxou Saychantha, who has no permanent address, has a medical condition and needs medication.
He is known to frequent the area surrounding the Afook-Chinen Civic Auditorium.
Saychantha is 5 foot 2, 125 pounds, with brown hair and brown eyes.
Anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call police at 935-3311.
Visitor robbed on Big Island visit
Big Island police are asking for the public's help in finding a suspect who allegedly robbed a Swiss visitor Saturday on Alii Drive.
Police believe the suspect took a wallet from a 39-year-old man from Switzerland at 10 p.m. just south of the Kailua pier. The suspect is described as a man in his 20s, more than 6 feet tall, about 200 pounds, with a dark complexion, a medium build and short, dark hair. He was shirtless.
Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Sharlotte Bird at 326-4646, extension 275, or the police non-emergency number at 935-3311.
Man arrested in alleged assault
Authorities charged a 40-year-old Kailua-Kona man yesterday in the alleged sexual assault of a girl early Sunday morning. Police arrested Anthony Scott Colgrove at 8:25 a.m. Sunday.
Police received a report at 2 a.m. Sunday that a girl had been sexually assaulted in Kailua-Kona. The girl was taken to Kona Community Hospital, where she was examined for her injuries, police said.
After receiving the results, police arrested Colgrove.
Detectives charged Colgrove yesterday with four counts of first-degree sexual assault. His bail was set at $200,000.
HONOLULU
Film fan suffers car break-in
Police arrested a 22-year-old man after he was caught allegedly rummaging through another man's car.
A 52-year-old man said he parked his vehicle in the Ward area to see a movie. At about 7:30 Monday night, he returned and found the suspect allegedly searching his glove compartment.
When confronted, the suspect fled. Police were called and canvassed the area. The suspect was located and arrested on suspicion of unauthorized entry into a vehicle.