Puna man gets 30 years for ramming cop's car
HILO >> A 33-year-old Big Island man who rammed a police officer's car in Hilo last March has been sentenced to 30 years in prison.Jon Akio Daffron, 33, of Puna originally was charged with attempted murder for allegedly trying to kill the officer. In a plea agreement, he pleaded guilty to a reduced charge of criminal property damage, as well as two drug charges and firearms offenses.
Police said they found more than a quarter-ounce of methamphetamine and a semiautomatic handgun in Daffron's truck after he rammed it into the front driver's side of officer Jason Grouns' parked car. Grouns was not injured.
Daffron's attorney, Stanton Oshiro, asked that Daffron serve three 10-year prison terms at the same time. But Judge Riki May Amano agreed with prosecutors and sentenced Daffron to consecutive terms.
3 surfers are rescued after boat runs aground
Honolulu firefighters along with the U.S. Marine Corps rescued three surfers last night who said they were surrounded by sharks in Kaneohe Bay.Fire officials said the surfers, two men and a woman, had taken a 9-foot motorized inflatable boat out into the bay yesterday afternoon and ran aground on reefs on their way back to shore in the evening.
One of the surfers had a cell phone and called for help at 6:45 and told fire officials that they had seen sharks in the water around them, said HFD spokesman Capt. Kenison Tejada.
The Fire Department's Air One Rescue Helicopter located the surfers about a mile from shore, and a rescue boat from Kaneohe Marine Corps Air Station assisted in towing the boat back to land.
2 new trustees named for state Employees' Retirement System
Two new members were selected to the eight-member board of trustees of the state Employees' Retirement System. Jackie Ferguson-Miyamoto and Odette Kealalio Fujimori will each serve six-year terms.Ferguson-Miyamoto was re-elected to her second term as an ERS trustee.
She is a 29-year state employee and Oahu director of the Hawaii Government Employees Association.
Fujimori begins her first term as trustee. She is a retired classroom and resource teacher with the state Department of Education and was the first president of the Hawaii State Teachers Association.
The retirement system was created in 1926, and its membership includes nearly 93,000 people.
>> The number to call for COBRA health care premium reimbursements on Oahu is 692-7980 (or 692-7982), not 692-7920 as incorrectly reported in a story on A5 yesterday. (For all other islands, the number is 800-574-0911.) 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 Managing Editor Frank Bridgewater at 529-4791 or email him at fbridgewater@starbulletin.com.
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffHonolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
EAST OAHU
Bank cameras catch shot of Kalama Valley robber
CrimeStoppers detectives said bank surveillance cameras caught the image of a man who may have kidnapped and robbed a family in their Kalama Valley residence Nov. 27 at about 2:30 a.m. Police said the suspect was using a victim's ATM card within 30 minutes of leaving the scene.
Police said the family was asleep in their Kaeleku Street residence when a masked intruder broke in, armed with either a shotgun or rifle. The suspect bound and gagged a teenage son, led him to his parents' bedroom, then bound and gagged the parents. The suspect took jewelry and other items from the house, then fled in an unknown direction.
The suspect is described as a male between 20 to 30 years old, 5-foot-7, 160 pounds, with a medium build and brown eyes.
Other witnesses or anyone who may recognize this person are asked to call Detective Kenneth Higa at 529-3880. Anonymous calls may be made to CrimeStoppers at 955-8300 or to *CRIME on a cellular phone.
HONOLULU
Police ask help finding Kaimuki bank robber
CrimeStoppers and the Honolulu Police Department are asking for help in identifying a man who robbed the Kaimuki Branch of Central Pacific Bank, located in Times Supermarket at 3221 Waialae Ave., yesterday at 2:20 p.m.
Police said the suspect walked up to the teller, placed his white canvas bag on the counter, demanded money and left. He was last seen driving away in a black two-door, American-made sports car, similar to a Trans Am or Firebird, with a male passenger.
The suspect is described as about 40 years old, 5-foot-10, 170 pounds, with a medium build, prescription eyeglasses, brown eyes, fair complexion, brown and gray hair, and a brown and gray mustache and beard. He was last seen wearing a navy blue bandana, green T-shirt and shorts, and carrying a white canvas bag and brown men's handbag described as a fake Louis Vuitton.
Anyone with information is asked to call CrimeStoppers at 955-8300 or *CRIME on a cellular phone.
NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Assault case is changed to attempted murder
Big Island police have reclassified a Dec. 23 assault case as an attempted murder. The victim, 29-year-old Franklin Matias, was transported to Oahu in critical condition after being assaulted and left on the sidewalk on Ohai Street in Hilo.Police have identified a suspect in Matias' attack as Dion J. Alvarez, an 18-year-old man with an Ohai Street address. Police said Alvarez may be traveling in a white two-door passenger sedan, possibly an Oldsmobile. Police advise that Alvarez is considered dangerous and that no attempt should be made to detain him.
Anyone with information regarding this incident or the whereabouts of Alvarez is asked to contact Detective Jeremie Evangelista at 961-2377.
Those who wish to remain anonymous may call CrimeStoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo or 329-8181 in Kona.
Molokai man is accused of shooting at girlfriend
A 21-year-old man has been charged with first-degree attempted murder after he allegedly fired a rifle at a car carrying his girlfriend and her two children on Molokai.Willie Ah Yee of Molokai was being held on $52,200 bail in Wailuku.
Police Capt. George Fontaine said the alleged shooting took place fronting Kamuela's Cookhouse in Kualapuu on Molokai at about 3 p.m. Sunday.
The woman said she had argued with Ah Yee and was driving away when he fired the shots, Fontaine said.
Ah Yee, arrested Wednesday at his residence in Kualapuu, also faces other charges, including first-degree reckless endangering and second-degree terroristic threatening.
