Advertisement - Click to support our sponsors.

Maui cops probe
woman’s death, man
resists arrest

By Gary T. Kubota
Star-Bulletin

WAILUKU -- Maui police detectives were holding a 60-year-old man following the death of a homeless woman.

The man has been charged with resisting arrest and two counts each of second-degree assault, terroristic threatening and criminal property damage after a struggle with police during his arrest. He was being held on $6,200 bail.

An autopsy on the woman, believed to be in her 40s, was scheduled today to determine the cause of her death, said police detective Ronald Hiyakumoto.

Hiyakumoto said that while there were no apparent physical marks of violence such as a gunshot or stab wound, the scene near the body showed signs of a struggle and the death has been tentatively classified as a homicide.

"Her belongings were scattered," Hiyakumoto said.

Police are investigating whether the man they arrested was involved in the death, Hiyakumoto said.

The woman's body was found near the pavilion at Baldwin Beach Park at about 4:30 a.m. by a man who was driving past.

Detectives said a couple of people, including the driver, saw a man leaving the scene.

Hiyakumoto said police stopped the suspect near the seventh green at the Maui Country Club golf course.

Police allege that Love grabbed a metal bar used to make putting holes, struck two officers and cracked the windshields of two police cars. Hiyakumoto said the police officers dodged the metal bar enough so they only received glancing blows.

Love was treated at Maui Memorial Medical Center for injuries received during the struggle and then was taken to a police cell.

Hiyakumoto said some identification was found on the woman but police were planning to use fingerprints to confirm her identify.

He said the woman was fully clothed when found and the body appeared partially clad only after medics attempted to revive her.