POLICE REPORTS
Boss’ last talk with
slaying victim
Vacuum salesman Melchor Tabag has
been missing since March 27By Susan Kreifels
Man held in death of taxi cab owner
Star-BulletinA vacuum salesman's boss believes that murder victim Melchor Tabag did something out of character the morning he was killed: make an unscheduled visit at a Waialua home to give a vacuum demonstration.
That stop allegedly led to Tabag's bloody death by a hammer and meat saw in the hands of a 23-year-old.
Steven Gura, a sales manager for Kirby Sales & Service, said at a preliminary hearing in state District Court yesterday that Tabag phoned to say he would meet with Gura shortly at a Haleiwa restaurant on March 27. Tabag never made it.
"It's my belief he would have called" if he had an appointment to demonstrate vacuums at a home, Gura said.
Instead of the restaurant, Tabag went to the Waialua home of Micheal Robert Lawrence, who is accused of murdering Tabag, 41.
Tabag's body has not been found but police believe they have enough circumstantial evidence to show Lawrence killed Tabag.
The preliminary hearing continues today to determine if the state has enough evidence to try Lawrence for murder.
Family members of the accused killer and his alleged victim gave emotional testimony yesterday.
Elisita Crisostomo, the victim's sister, said she never saw Tabag again after he dropped her off at work the morning he allegedly was killed. "I wish I could see him, I miss him," she said, sobbing.
Carolyn Lawrence, the defendant's mother, testified that Tabag had been demonstrating Kirby products in her son's bedroom between 10 a.m. and noon before she saw the two men walk out to a washroom and patio area.
She later saw Tabag lying on the floor in the laundry room. "I just saw his eyes open, a little dribble of blood on his forehead," she testified.
She looked up at her son, who had a hammer in his hand. "He said the guy tripped and fell," she said. "I was afraid. I ran in my bedroom and locked the bedroom door."
Man held in death of
Jaymes K. Song
owner of taxi cabs
Star-BulletinA 28-year-old Waikiki man was arrested last night in connection with the stabbing death of a 33-year-old Makiki man.
Officers responding to an injured-person call at about 7 p.m., found the man stabbed several times inside his first-floor Makiki apartment at 404 Magellan Ave., police said. He was stabbed several times in the head and upper body.
The man was identified by neighbors as Paul Salazar, who owns and manages at least two taxi cabs.
The suspect was arrested at the scene, police said. He faces second-degree murder charges.
An official at the Americab taxi company said Salazar was a quiet man who always took care of business. He used Americab's dispatch service for several years, until six months ago.
The man arrested in the case was a taxi driver who used to lease cabs from Salazar, the official added.
A second suspect, a 42-year-old man, ran away before police arrived. Lt. Allen Napoleon, head of the homicide detail, said police are looking into robbery as a motive.
A possible weapon was recovered, and is being analyzed.
Neighbors recalled seeing the two men earlier in the day walking around the complex and coming out of Salazar's apartment.
They didn't think anything was wrong, because the two men come around on occasion and talked to Salazar, who has lived in the building for five years. The only thing suspicious was that Salazar's car was not in his usual parking spot and the men were never allowed inside the apartment. They would always talk outside.
Next-door neighbor Bruce Eselu said Salazar was a hard-working man who kept to himself and never caused trouble.
Eselu said he heard three faint knocks at about 4:30 p.m. coming from Salazar's apartment. A short while later, he heard three faint knocks again. He looked outside, but didn't see anyone.
Eselu believes the knocks might have been Salazar calling for help.
The second suspect is 5 feet 9 inches tall, 170 pounds with red hair, green eyes and is muscular.
Two isle-based service-
By Gregg K. Kakesako
men on military’s
‘most wanted’ list
Star-BulletinA 34-year-old Pearl Harbor sailor has made the Navy's "most wanted" list of criminals and is featured on its cyberspace lineup.
A 26-year-old Mililani airman is wanted as one of the Air Force's top 10 fugitives.
Both the Air Force and the Navy have turned to cyberspace to track fugitives who fled military justice.
Second Class Yeoman Harold Russell Finberg, who deserted Dec. 5, 1997, from Pearl Harbor while awaiting court-martial for allegedly assaulting and taking indecent liberties with a minor, is believed to still be in islands.
Finberg was later convicted of one charge of sodomy and two charges of indecent acts with a minor. He was sentenced to a prison term of seven years, given a dishonorable discharge and fined forfeiture of pay and allowance of $900 per month for seven years.
Assigned to the staff of the commander in chief of the Pacific before he deserted, Finberg is 5 feet 6 inches tall, weighs 170 pounds and has brown hair. Anyone having information may call Naval Criminal Investigative Service at 474-1218.
The Navy's Web page at www.ncis.navy.mil/ Wanted.htm is maintained by the Naval Criminal Investigative Service and lists five other most wanted suspects.
The Air Force Office of Special Investigations has maintained a similar Web site since August 1995 and has apprehended 25 fugitives through the program. The Air Force's top 10 fugitive list is posted at www.dtic.mil/afosi.
Currently listed as one of the Air Force's 10 most wanted is Airman Basic Brian Nelson Arevalo, 26, who deserted Jan. 2, 1994, while under investigation for possession of narcotics and concealed weapon.
Arevalo was born in San Francisco, but he listed his home address as being in Mililani
