Two Honolulu police officers injured Friday night while trying to arrest a man who later died were unable to call for backup with their portable radios. Cops injured in scuffle
couldn't summon helpThe radios are equipped with a red "alert" button for emergencies.
One of the injured officers said he pressed the button, but no signal was received by HPD Dispatch, says Deputy Chief William Clark.
"We're looking into the cause of why the alert signal was not received," Clark added.
One of the officers suffered a fractured vertebra in his lower back while the other is being treated for a concussion.
The city's Department of Design and Construction and Ericsson Private Radio System, which is HPD's communications contractor, are investigating the possible malfunction.
Ericcson spokesman Peter Fiore declined comment and referred calls to Randall Fujiki, the Design and Construction director. Fujiki was unavailable for comment.
Eric Sumida, 28, who scuffled with the officers, died later at Castle Hospital.
An autopsy was to be performed today to determine cause of death.
UH faculty eligible for $5,000 award
The University of Hawaii will award $5,000 to faculty members who have made significant contributions to the community, and it's looking for nominations.The awards will be given to one female and one male full-time faculty member from the University of Hawaii at Hilo, UH West Oahu and UH community colleges.
The Hung Wo and Elizabeth Lau Ching Foundation established the awards for faculty who strengthen ties between the university and the community through volunteer service.
Nominations must be sent by 3 p.m. April 15 to Suzanne Falgout, chairwoman of the Faculty Service to the Community Award Committee, UH West Oahu, Social Sciences Division, 96-129 Ala Ike, Pearl City, HI 96782.
Judiciary History Center tours
The Judiciary History Center will offer free guided tours in April and May.The tours will explore such topics as Hawaii's transition from a kapu system to Western law.
The center is at 417 South King Street in Ali'iolani Hale. Space is limited for the one-hour lunchtime tours, offered Thursdays and Fridays. For reservations, call 539-4999.
See expanded coverage in today's Honolulu Star-Bulletin.
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Police, Fire
By Star-Bulletin staffPOLICE/FIRE
3 masked bandits hit Kaneohe supermarket
Three masked gunmen backed a white vehicle through locked front entrance doors at Times Super Market's Temple Valley store last night, forced a manager to open a safe and fled with an undisclosed amount of currency and food stamps.The robbery at 47-388 Hui Iwa St. was reported at 10:49 p.m. The men, who wore gloves, were armed with a laser-scope rifle, shotgun and handgun, police said.
The vehicle, abandoned by the gunmen shortly after the robbery, was stolen, police said.
In an earlier armed robbery yesterday, a gunman held up Cashback Catalog Sales' Moanalua Shopping Center branch about 5 p.m. and fled with a "substantial" amount of cash, police said.
Crash throws two riders from car; one is killed
One man was killed and two others critically injured when the car they were in hit two parked vehicles early yesterday in Kapahulu.Police said speed and alcohol appear to be contributing factors in the 2:40 a.m. accident on Date Street, just east of Lukepane Avenue.
Two of three rear-seat passengers in a Geo Tracker were thrown from the car when it struck the parked cars, police said.
One of them, a 24-year-old Honolulu man, died at Queen's Hospital. The other is in critical condition at Queen's along with the 23-year-old driver of the car, who is a Honolulu man. A fourth passenger was stabilized at Queen's and later transferred to Straub Hospital. One other passenger was treated for injuries at Queen's and later released.
The death is Oahu's 12th traffic fatality of the year.
Pearl City youth held in Ala Moana bank theft
Police arrested a 17-year-old boy in Pearl City as a suspect in the March 12 robbery of Bank of Hawaii's Ala Moana branch.Federal agents earlier arrested a 20-year-old woman employee of the bank in connection with the holdup.
See expanded coverage in today's Honolulu Star-Bulletin.
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