Newswatch
Police, Fire, Courts

By Star-Bulletin Staff

Wednesday, January 2, 2002

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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.

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Police, Fire, Courts



By Star-Bulletin staff

Honolulu Police Department Crimestoppers

HONOLULU

Suspected ATM thief caught and arrested

Police arrested a 33-year-old Kapahulu man yesterday morning after he was observed attempting to break into a Bank of Hawaii machine at 130 Merchant St.

Police said an officer spotted the suspect breaking open an automated teller machine near Rainbow Drive. After a pursuit on foot, the suspect was caught and arrested.

WAIKIKI

Swimmer drowns off Ala Moana shallow reef

A 64-year-old man from San Francisco drowned in the shallow reef area at Ala Moana Beach Park at 12:05 yesterday afternoon, according to Capt. Paul Merino of Ala Moana Lifeguard Services.

Merino said a surfer discovered the man's body floating face down in about 2 feet of water about 660 feet from the beach. The man was wearing goggles and fins.

The surfer alerted a lifeguard, who brought the man in and attempted to resuscitate him, Merino said. The man was taken to Straub Hospital and pronounced dead at 12:40 p.m. Merino said the victim's brother had been with him at the beach and informed lifeguards the victim recently had open heart surgery.

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS

Overzealous hiker gets airlifted from Kauai foray

KAUAI >> A 36-year-old Lihue man was airlifted to safety yesterday afternoon, two-and-a-half days after his plans to take a day hike to Mt. Waialeale went astray.

The man's wife reported him missing Sunday night when he did not return from a solo hike in Kokee State Park.

"What's known to be a four-day trip -- where the trail disappears -- he was going to try and do in one day," said Bob Kaden, a Kauai Fire Department battalion chief.

Police and fire rescue teams with dogs searched for the man Monday and located him yesterday.

"We plucked out by longline today around 2 p.m." and he was reunited with his wife and 7-year-old daughter at Kokee State Park, Kaden said.

"He had a poncho and space blanket and was all scratched up and dehydrated, but his vital signs were good."

Rescuers advised the man's wife take him to Wilcox Hospital for treatment and observation.