WAIKIKI

Fourth suspect, 16, busted in robberies

Police arrested Thursday a 16-year-old boy, the fourth and final suspect in a string of knifepoint robberies on Oct. 25.

Police said the robberies occurred at a Waipahu service station, a McCully restaurant and two Waikiki restaurants.

At about 4:15 a.m. Oct. 25, an 18-year-old Kalihi man allegedly entered the Waipahu service station wearing a mask and armed with a knife. He allegedly demanded money, while the boy who was arrested yesterday waited outside as a lookout, police said. When the cashier was unable to open the cash register, the man allegedly grabbed some cigarettes and fled with the 16-year-old.

At 5:25 a.m. the same two suspects went into a McCully restaurant, and the man allegedly wielded a knife and threatened to kill an employee if the employees did not open the safe, police said.

The two fled in a waiting sport utility vehicle after an employee screamed and threatened to call police. The SUV was driven by a 17-year-old boy and occupied by another 16-year-old boy.

At about 6:20 a.m. the man and the 16-year-old arrested yesterday allegedly grabbed bags from two women who were waiting for a bus in Waikiki and dragged them 20 to 30 feet. The older woman let go of her bag, and the suspects fled with her bag and got into a waiting SUV.

Police had arrested the three others earlier, and police found the fourth suspect yesterday and arrested him for investigation of four counts of robbery, including two counts of first-degree robbery and two counts of second-degree robbery.

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS

Fire hits land near hospital and school

KAPAA, Kauai » A brush fire near a hospital and an elementary school was extinguished quickly by Kauai firefighters yesterday, but not before it burned a couple of acres.

The fire, which burned on state land near Samuel Mahelona Memorial Hospital and Kapaa Elementary School, was reported at 2 p.m. and deemed under control by 3:15 p.m. It was extinguished

about 10 minutes later, county officials said.

Kona winds kept the smoke from blowing toward the hospital, officials said.

No one was injured and no structures were damaged.