Newswatch
Police, Fire, Courts

By Star-Bulletin Staff

Thursday, July 5, 2001

Man arrested in death of Palolo resident

A 47-year-old man turned himself in to police last night in connection with the death of a 64-year-old Palolo man whose body was found in his Kupaa Drive home Saturday.

The suspect was arrested for second-degree murder.

After an autopsy Monday, the medical examiner determined that the Palolo man died of "blunt head injuries" and the case was reclassified as a homicide.

Police found the man's body in the living room after a friend called police because he had not heard from the victim for a week. The body was near the front door, which was wide-open, police said.

Neighbors said they last saw the victim between Tuesday and Thursday in his yard.

Arts Foundation moves to Hemmeter Building

The State Foundation on Culture and the Arts office was to reopen for business in the Hemmeter Building today.

The office's new address is 250 S. Hotel St., 2nd Floor, Honolulu 96813. Most phone numbers will remain the same.

The State Art Museum will open in the building in the fall of 2002.

2 public libraries to close for renovation projects

Public libraries in Laupahoehoe and Ewa Beach will be closed temporarily later this month due to renovation and construction projects, state public library officials said.

The Laupahoehoe Public and School Library will be closed from July 16 to Aug. 3 for renovations. The library is scheduled to reopen Aug. 6.

The Ewa Beach Public and School Library will be closed July 19 due to an electrical upgrade of the adjacent Campbell High School Complex.

Book drops at both facilities will remain open.

Rehab Hospital to open its second Kauai clinic

Rehabilitation Hospital of the Pacific invites the public to the grand opening of its second clinic on Kauai from 5 to 6 p.m. tomorrow.

REHAB at Kalaheo, in Rainbow Plaza on Kaumualii Highway, will make it more convenient for West Kauai patients to receive care, officials said.

REHAB at Kapaa opened in March to serve East Kauai residents.

Bill O'Connor, the hospital's chief executive officer, said, "Part of REHAB's mission is to keep in touch with Kauai's needs to ensure that rehab services are accessible throughout the island."

Services range from an occupational health program and individualized care to highly specialized programs such as vestibular rehabilitation, which addresses dizziness, balance and decreased activity levels resulting from conditions such as labyrinthitis and bilateral or vestibular dysfunction.

Rose Murtagh, supervisor of REHAB's Kauai clinics, said, "At REHAB at Kalaheo we offer physical and occupational therapy services to Kauai's south- and west-side residents, eliminating the need to travel for appointments."

Therapy is provided for a variety of diagnoses, she said.

For more information on the clinics, call 332-9764.

Series of talks to address fluoridation health risks

"Fluoridation -- How Safe?" will be discussed by Paul Connett, chemistry professor at St. Lawrence University, New York, in several public talks.

Connett, adviser to Hawaii Citizens for Health, established the Fluoride Action Network a year ago to alert people to health and environmental risks from excess fluoride exposure.

Hawaii Citizens for Health is sponsoring his talks, scheduled as follows:

>> Today, 6:30 p.m., University of Hawaii Law School, 2515 Dole St.
>> Saturday, 10 a.m., state Capitol auditorium.

Groups may schedule private meetings with Connett by calling 455-3196 or 944-0607.

Corrections and clarifications The Honolulu Star-Bulletin strives to make its news report fair and accurate. If you have a question or comment about news coverage, call Publisher and Editor in Chief John Flanagan at 529-4748 or email him at jflanagan@starbulletin.com.

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Police, Fire, Courts



By Star-Bulletin staff

Honolulu Police Department Crimestoppers

LEEWARD OAHU

Police arrest 12-year-old in death threat to teacher

Honolulu police arrested a 12-year-old Waipahu boy Tuesday after police said the suspect told a teacher, "I'll kill you!"

Police said the incident happened at 2 p.m. on the Waipahu Middle School campus.

Police said the 29-year-old teacher ordered the suspect off campus after summer school let out earlier. Police said that before the suspect left, he told the teacher he would kill her and then gestured with his hand and said, "Rat-tat-tat."

Police said the victim called 911, fearing the suspect would return. The police located, arrested and released the suspect at his home.

CENTRAL OAHU

House guest arrested in sex assault on 2 girls

Two juvenile females told police they were sexually assaulted by a house guest in Waipio.

The assaults allegedly occurred between May 15 and Monday at a Waikalani Drive apartment building.

Police said the suspect had been living with the family of one of the victims when the assaults allegedly took place. The suspect has been arrested, charged and turned over to a detention home.

HONOLULU

Stolen moped is more than the sum of its parts

A stolen moped recovered in Palolo turned out to be two stolen mopeds, according to Honolulu police.

Police recovered the moped Tuesday near Ahe Street and found that it was actually a composite of parts made up of two different stolen mopeds.

Police arrested two juvenile males who witnesses said had been riding the moped around Palolo. Both suspects were arrested for two counts each of unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle.

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS

Big Isle man shot by home intruders

Kau police and paramedics responding to a 6:53 p.m. call Tuesday from Hawaiian Ocean View Estates found a 55-year-old male shot at his residence.

Police learned that the victim had entered his residence and surprised two male intruders. During a confrontation, one of the intruders shot the victim in the upper abdomen.

The victim was flown by air ambulance to Kona Community Hospital, where he underwent surgery and was reported in critical but stable condition. He was scheduled to be flown to the Queen's Medical Center in Honolulu for further treatment.

The victim described one of the suspects as a white male in his 30s, with curly brown hair and wearing a T-shirt and jeans.

He described the second suspect as a local male in his 20s, 5-foot-8 to 5-foot-9, weighing about 150 pounds, with black, neck-length hair.

Police are investigating the incident as an attempted murder and burglary.

Anyone with information about the case or the identity of the suspects is asked to call Detective Wayne Young of the Kona Criminal Investigation Section at 326-4275 or the police nonemergency number at 935-3311.

Those who wish to remain anonymous may call CrimeStoppers at 329-8181 in Kona or 961-8300 in Hilo.