Newswatch
Star-Bulletin staff
and wire service


» Police, Fire, Courts

Big Isle mayor out of hospital

Big Island Mayor Harry Kim was released from a Honolulu hospital yesterday after suffering an apparent heart attack over the weekend.

His office issued a statement yesterday afternoon that said he was released from the Queen's Medical Center and is expected to return to Hilo today. Staffers are not sure when Kim is expected to return to work.

Kim suffered an apparent heart attack in his Hilo home Sunday afternoon. He was initially treated at Hilo Medical Center and was transported via an air ambulance to Queen's Medical Center that evening for additional cardiac tests.

This is Kim's second heart attack since May 2005.

Group hug to send off soldiers

A ceremony to bid aloha to some 1,700 soldiers of the 29th Infantry Brigade Combat Team leaving for Kuwait also will attempt Saturday to set the Guinness World Record for the largest group hug.

The public is invited to join in the embrace at Aloha Stadium with Gov. Linda Lingle, U.S. Sens. Daniel Inouye and Daniel Akaka, U.S. Rep. Mazie Hirono, Lt. Gov. James "Duke" Aiona Jr., state Adjutant General Maj. Gen. Robert Lee and Ashley Kakazu, 10, the organizer.

Parking gates open at 6 a.m. and parking is free. Stadium seating gates open at 8 a.m. The deployment ceremony begins at 11 a.m.

The Hawaii Army National Guard's 29th Brigade will be heading to Kuwait in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The 29th Brigade is made up of a headquarters company and cavalry, field artillery, brigade support and special troops battalions and the 100th Battalion/ 442nd Infantry of the Army Reserve, a release said.

Everyone will be asked to link up simultaneously for the world record attempt in the largest group hug, originally suggested by Ashley, a Punahou student. The current world record is 6,623 for 35 seconds, set in Mexico, a release said.

The public, family and friends are encouraged to bring canned goods to help the Hawaii Foodbank.

Staph experts to discuss disease

Two leaders of the Summer Staph Institute will speak at tomorrow's free weekly meeting on Staphylococcus aureus from 4:30 to 6 p.m. at the Queen's Conference Center, 510 Beretania St.

Matthew J. Bankowski, vice president and director for clinical microbial infectious disease at Diagnostic Laboratory Services, and Steve Seifried, University of Hawaii molecular biologist, will discuss pathogenesis of staph infections and virulence and resistance genes.

A series of public talks on different aspects of the so-called "superbug" began June 12 and will continue through Aug. 28 when Bankowski, Seifried and Dr. Alan Tice, infectious disease specialist, will review what was learned in the Staph Institute.




Police, Fire, Courts
Star-Bulletin staff



WAIKIKI

Woman arrested after risky drive

Police arrested a 49-year-old Waikiki woman Sunday after she allegedly swerved her car to cut off a police officer who was pursuing her for an alleged traffic violation.

About 11:50 p.m., the officer saw the woman speed and run two red lights, almost causing an accident, police said.

The officer turned on his siren and flashing blue light in an effort to pull her over, but she refused, police said. She then allegedly swerved her vehicle into the officer's lane, causing him to stop suddenly before hitting the curb.

Police said the car then allegedly sped off and almost collided with two other cars. The officer finally stopped her at an intersection, where she allegedly resisted arrest.

She was arrested on suspicion of drunken driving, first-degree reckless endangering, first-degree terroristic threatening and resisting arrest.

Officer allegedly attacked after fight

Two men, ages 24 and 27, were arrested after a fight in Waikiki early yesterday morning for allegedly assaulting a police officer, disorderly conduct and fourth-degree criminal property damage.

Police said the 24-year-old man got into a fight about 3:45 a.m. at 2464 Kalakaua Ave. and allegedly refused to obey officers' orders to stop fighting.

The man then allegedly became combative with the officers, and police used a Taser gun on him. The 27-year-old Kalihi man got upset the other man was shocked with a Taser, so he approached an officer from behind and allegedly punched him at least twice in the back of the head, police said.

The younger man was arrested for investigation of disorderly conduct, and refused to provide his home address. Police arrested the older man for suspicion of disorderly conduct, assault on a law enforcement officer and fourth-degree criminal property damage, for allegedly damaging the police transport vehicle's window frame and the strap of a seat restraint bar.

HONOLULU

Boy allegedly robs classmate of iPod

Police yesterday arrested a 14-year-old boy who allegedly stole an iPod from a classmate.

On Monday, the suspect asked to see the victim's iPod. The victim, a 14-year-old boy, handed it to the suspect, but when he asked for it back, the suspect allegedly refused and allegedly threatened to beat him, police said.

The victim reported the alleged robbery to police and school officials yesterday. Police found the boy at the school and arrested him on suspicion of second-degree robbery.

Man to face rape charges

An Aiea man is scheduled to appear in Honolulu District Court tomorrow on rape charges for an alleged attack on a 13-year-old boy who worked for him.

Frank C. Lefrandt Jr., 47, of Kaamilo Street is charged with first-degree sexual assault, first-degree attempted sexual assault and third-degree sexual assault.

Police arrested him early Sunday morning in Aiea in a Kaonohi Street business parking lot after the boy's father called police.

Lefrandt, who delivers newspapers as an independent contractor, took the boy with him to the Honolulu Advertiser's Kapolei printing plant, according to court documents. Lefrandt is not an Advertiser employee, according to the company's human resources department.

The boy told police he fell asleep in the delivery van and awoke when he was being assaulted. The van was parked in a Kaonohi Street parking lot when the alleged attack took place, according to court documents.

Lefrandt is being held in lieu of $100,000 bail.





BACK TO TOP
© Honolulu Star-Bulletin -- https://archives.starbulletin.com
Tools




E-mail City Desk