A Honolulu police officer approaches the driver of a stopped vehicle and someone jumps up from the back seat. The officer suddenly sees a bright red laser dot on his chest. Age limit in works for laser pointer
The officer, sensing a gun is being aimed at him, is about to pull his weapon.
Then he realizes a teen-ager is shining a laser pointer at him.
Capt. Karl Godsey used the incident yesterday to show members of the City Council's Public Safety Committee the dangers of the pointers.
While the teen could have been hurt, such incidents also could have the opposite effect, Godsey said. The growing presence of laser pointers could be lulling officers into complacency when they see a red dot on them, he said.
Critics of the laser pointers also say people, primarily youngsters, have been blinded by the instruments.
The committee moved out a bill that would make it illegal for anyone to sell laser pointers to those under 18.
At the suggestion of the Police Department, the committee also added a new provision that would make it illegal for minors to possess laser pointers.
Rep. Mark Moses (R, Makakilo) believes one way to restore faith in government could be random drug testing of state senators and representatives. Drug testing of lawmakers proposed
"It has to do with the integrity of government and the credibility of those in leadership," Moses said.
He's introduced a bill to require random drug testing of lawmakers who, according to the bill, are role models for young people.
The bill states that "many young people are becoming increasingly disillusioned by the personal behavior of their elected officials and in need of a symbolic gesture to restore their confidence in government."
The House Public Safety Committee held the bill last week.
Committee Chairman Nestor Garcia said the bill would require the Department of Public Safety to conduct the tests. He noted the department is already busy trying to implement drug tests for correctional officers.
"I would prefer that he (Sakai) spend more of his time going that route than dealing with us," Garcia said.
He said he would talk to the bill's sponsor to see if another state agency could conduct the tests on lawmakers.
Man in 16-hour standoff is charged in shooting
A 27-year-old man involved in a 16-hour standoff with police during the weekend was charged today in connection with the shooting death of a Waiau woman.Matthew James Clement was charged with second-degree murder, police said. He is being held on $500,000 bail.
He was arrested at 8:30 a.m. Saturday at 98-114 Kauhihau Place in Waiau. Clement allegedly fled into the duplex at 4:45 p.m. Friday when Pearl City Crime Reduction Unit officers tried to arrest him.
Eleanor "Ellie" Wimberly, 43, was shot to death in her home at 98-442 Hoono St. between 4:30 and 6:30 p.m. Wednesday.
Home Depot will clean polluted Iwilei site
Home Depot USA has agreed to rid an Iwilei site it is developing of petroleum-related soil and groundwater contamination.The company will avoid liability problems later by initiating cleanup efforts under the Health Department's Voluntary Response Program, the department said.
A public informational meeting on Home Depot's plans will be held at 7 p.m. tomorrow at Kapalama Elementary School. An informal open house begins at 6 p.m.
National diabetes study will be based in Hawaii
Hawaii will be the site of one of six national diabetes research centers, said U.S. Rep. Patsy Mink."The prevalence of diabetes in Hawaii is higher than for the U.S. as a whole, with approximately 50,000 people diagnosed as having diabetes in Hawaii and many more who have not yet been diagnosed," she said.
"Diabetes affects Asian-Pacific Islander people particularly and has had a devastating impact upon many Hawaii families. Providing the highest quality of care possible is of utmost importance."
The Pacific Health Research Institute in Honolulu was named one of the six research centers.
Funded by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the study will span five years. Dr. J. David Curb, medical director of the Pacific Health Research Institute, will lead the isle study.
Lanes near Salt Lake close for freeway work
The resurfacing of Moanalua Freeway ramps from Ala Kapuna to Ala Napuanani near Salt Lake has begun, requiring single-lane closures on North Frontage and South Frontage roads from 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays.Work also includes replacing signs and reflector markers, sidewalk construction, upgrading bridge railings, and installation of wheelchair ramps, pavement markings and guardrails, the state Transportation Department said.
Grace Pacific Corp. has the $1.6 million contract, and work should be completed by mid-March.
Best sellers to debut sooner at isle libraries
The Hawaii State Public Library System has launched its "Hot Picks Project," designed to get best sellers to library patrons as quickly as possible.Book titles are ordered ahead of the publication date so they will be ready for circulation about the same time they appear in Hawaii bookstores.
As soon as the titles are ordered, they are noted in the online catalog so interested readers may put them on hold.
Posters and bookmarks will have the list of "Hot Picks" and other information about the service. "Hot Picks" have a one-week loan period.
The pilot project will last six months.
Attorney Kennedy will speak at Justice Dinner
Robert F. Kennedy Jr., an environmental attorney who has authored several books, will speak at a Celebration of Justice Dinner 6 p.m. Feb. 27 at the Halekulani Hotel.Kennedy, a son of the late Sen. Robert F. Kennedy, is chief prosecuting attorney for Hudson Riverkeeper, a New York-based coalition of fishermen and others who want to clean up and protect the Hudson River. He also is senior attorney for the Natural Resources Defense Council and professor and supervising attorney at Environmental Litigation Clinic at Pace University School of Law in New York.
Tickets for the dinner are $100 each; call 599-2769 before Feb. 19.
See expanded coverage in today's Honolulu Star-Bulletin.
See our [Search] [Info] section for subscription information.
Police, Fire
By Star-Bulletin staffPOLICE
Man charged in melee that sent one to hospital
Police have charged a Waianae man in connection with an attack on Sunday.Blackie Kapele-Poti was charged with attempted murder and second-degree assault, police said. He is being held on $105,000 bail.
A 21-year-old Waimanalo man was struck on the back of the head with an aluminum bat during a large melee early Sunday at a housing complex near the Waianae Community Center on Farrington Highway, police said. The man is in guarded condition at Queen's Hospital.
The 12:30 a.m. incident involved 30-40 people from Waimanalo and Waianae, police said.
THE COURTS
Supreme Court rules for new trial for Perez
The Hawaii Supreme Court affirmed a lower court's ruling overturning the conviction of a man in the shooting of his wife.The high court ruled yesterday that a new trial must be held for Roman Perez, 67. Justices affirmed the Intermediate Court of Appeals ruling last year that the Circuit Court judge incorrectly instructed the jury in his February 1997 trial.
Perez was tried for attempted murder in the July 26, 1996, incident in which shots from a semiautomatic weapon were fired at Nova Perez at South and Queen streets. He was sentenced to 20 years in prison.
Computer program may help police overtime
A customized computer scheduling program that aims to whittle Honolulu Police Department overtime costs has been implemented by the Oahu District Court.The project will try to mesh police officers' appearances in court as witnesses with their duty hours. Officers are entitled to overtime pay when they are subpoenaed to court on a day off, a source of significant cost to the department.
The pilot project involves only officers in the department's Kalihi District and only traffic cases. If successful, the program may be expanded to cover other districts, according to an announcement by Administrative Judge Marcia Waldorf.
See expanded coverage in today's Honolulu Star-Bulletin.
See our [Search] [Info] section for subscription information.
