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Police and Fire


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POSTED: Friday, August 28, 2009

Suspect in hiker stabbings fit for trial

A panel of court-appointed mental health experts says Benjamin Davis is mentally fit to stand trial for allegedly stabbing two hikers at the top of Koko Crater Trail in February.

Based on the panel's findings, Circuit Judge Michael Town ordered Davis' trial on one count of attempted first-degree murder and two counts of attempted second-degree murder to proceed. Town also ordered the reports of the three experts sealed.

Police said Davis, 19, stabbed Nicholas Iwamoto and California resident Guy Tanaka on Feb. 1 as they were enjoying the view from the top of the trail.

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Iwamoto suffered multiple stab wounds to his head, chest, abdomen and both hands. Police said he suffered two collapsed lungs, skull and neck fractures, and cuts or stab wounds to his left temporal artery and left jugular vein.

Tanaka suffered a single stab wound to his back. His doctor told police the blade punctured Tanaka's chest wall and entered his lung.

Tanaka said the only clothing Davis was wearing was boxer shorts.

Police later found Davis in a tree wearing one shoe and no clothing. They found a matching shoe at the top of the trail where Tanaka and Iwamoto said Davis attacked them.

Davis' friends have said they believe he consumed a powerful drug unknowingly.

Oahu's 40th traffic fatality identified in Waianae crash

A 58-year-old man who died Wednesday night following a single-vehicle accident in Waianae has been identified as James Nakata of Waianae.

Police said Nakata was northbound on Lualualei Homestead Road at about 8:25 p.m. when he veered left to overtake a car in front of him.

Nakata lost control of his white 1988 Toyota pickup, spun sideways and hit a light pole and stone wall near Kawili Street, police said.

He was taken in critical condition to the Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center, where he later died, police said.

Police said alcohol and speed appear to be factors in the accident. Nakata was not wearing a seat belt, and his truck was not equipped with an airbag, police said.

This is the 40th traffic fatality on Oahu this year compared with 32 at this time last year.

Bicyclist killed by pickup named as California sailor

The Medical Examiner's Office identified a bicyclist who died after being hit by a pickup truck near Kualoa Ranch last Friday as Derek Baxter.

The office said the 23-year-old Baxter was a crewman stationed aboard the nuclear submarine USS Chicago, home-ported at Pearl Harbor.

At about 5:40 p.m. last Friday, Baxter was hit by a pickup truck on Kamehameha Highway.

Police said the 37-year-old driver of the truck was Kahuku-bound when he fell asleep at the wheel and nearly hit three other vehicles before veering into the oncoming lane and hitting Baxter.

A second bicyclist managed to get out of the way, police said. Officers arrested the driver and then released him pending further investigation.

Baxter was from Foresthill, Calif.

Police arrest girl, 15, who allegedly shoplifted at mall

Police arrested a 15-year-old girl after she allegedly robbed and shoplifted from two Windward Mall stores in Kaneohe on three separate occasions this month.

Police said the girl entered Macy's at about 12:50 p.m. Aug. 17 and allegedly stole some items. When the store security officers confronted her, the girl used physical force to break free, police said.

The girl allegedly shoplifted again at 6:22 p.m. last Friday at Sears. This time when confronted by store security, she allegedly dropped the items and fled, police said.

Then at 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, she again allegedly took items from Macy's and used physical force to escape store security, police said.

Police located the girl at 3 p.m. Wednesday and arrested her on two counts of second-degree robbery and one count of fourth-degree theft.