Police officer receives Gold Medal of Valor
Police Chief Lee Donohue presented officer Tenari Maafala with the Warrior Gold Medal of Valor, the department's highest honor.Maafala was honored for "risking his life to prevent others from seriously being injured or killed" when he shot 18-year-old Benedict Manupule on New Year's Day at Mayor Wright Housing.
According to records, Manupule was firing his handgun into the air when Maafala, who was off-duty at the time, identified himself as a police officer and ordered him to drop the weapon.
Manupule fired at Maafala two times, but missed. Maafala returned fire, killing Manupule with one shot.
The department said the award "is presented to an officer who distinguishes himself or herself conspicuously, above and beyond the normal performance of duty, by means of outstanding bravery and at the risk of the officer's life."
Handicapped parking fee too much, judge says
A federal judge has ruled the city cannot charge $10 every four years for handicapped-parking placards.U.S. District Judge Samuel King found the fee violated the federal Americans with Disabilities Act because it is more than the cost of issuing the placards.
Hank Emerick, who has been in a wheelchair since 1963, sued the city on behalf of all permanently disabled people.
His lawyer, Lunsford Phillips, said the case is the first of its kind to go to trial and be decided.
"The city tried to argue that the free parking which permit holders receive justifies the surcharge," he said.
"But the court understood persons with disabilities don't want better rights, we only want equal rights."
Vice admiral nominated to lead Pacific Command
Vice Adm. Dennis C. Blair has been nominated to replace Adm. Joseph Prueher in February as commander in chief of the U.S. Pacific Command.Blair's nomination, which must be approved by the U.S. Senate, also means that he will be eligible to wear a fourth star. He is currently director of the Joint Staff at the Pentagon.
Dana Ireland defendant loses delay of 2nd trial
HILO -- A request by a defendant in the Dana Ireland murder case for postponement of his trial in an unrelated sexual assault case was denied yesterday.Frank Pauline Jr. was indicted in October 1996 on charges of first-degree and third-degree sexual assault on a girl who was 12 at the time of the alleged incident in January 1993.
His attorney, Clifford Hunt, asked Circuit Judge Riki May Amano to continue the case because he was "not going to be adequately prepared to try this case effectively."
Amano denied the continuance request, and trial is set to begin Aug. 24.
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Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffWoman robbed at Ala Moana Center
Police are searching for a man who robbed a woman at gunpoint yesterday in the parking lot of the Ala Moana Shopping Center.The woman was backing out of her stall fronting Liberty House at 1:45 p.m. when a man driving an older-model white sedan drove up and stopped behind her car, police said. The driver of the white car got out, brandished a long-barrel handgun and gestured to the woman to roll down her window.
She refused and threw a $20 bill out the passenger-side window. When the suspect went to retrieve the bill, the woman reversed toward the man. He then fled.
The suspect is described as a white male in his 50s, 5 feet 8 inches tall, 150 pounds with gray hair and a mustache.
Four inmates arrested after fleeing Laumaka
Police last night arrested four inmates who escaped from the Laumaka Conditional Release Center.Witnesses saw two men jump the fence from the compound at about 10:40 p.m., police said. Crime Reduction Unit officers apprehended a 31-year-old inmate outside the facilities a short time later. He said he was going to Jack- In-The--Box to buy hamburgers.
When officers arrived at the neighboring Jack-In-The-Box on Umi and North King streets, they found the second man, 28, purchasing food.
As a result of the escapes, a bed check was made at the facility and two more men, 32 and 36, were discovered missing at 11:30 p.m.
One man was apprehended as he was jumping over the fence back into the center and the other was found in the facility.
All four men were booked for second-degree escape.
Hilo girl, 14, missing since May returns home
A 14-year-old Big Island girl who was reported missing May 28 returned yesterday to her Hilo residence, according to police.
No foul play suspected with body found in ditch
Military police do not believe foul play is involved in the death of a man whose body was found yesterday in a ditch at the foot of Kolekole Pass at Schofield Barracks. The unidentified man had severe head injuries and cuts, Army investigators said.
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