Ex-Marines indicted on additional charges
An Oahu grand jury has indicted two ex-Marines on 10 additional counts each of second-degree robbery.Last week, Antwain Salters and William Linwood IV, both 21, were indicted in the robberies of businesses and individuals between Dec. 21 and Jan. 18.
Salters and Linwood had already been charged each with four counts of second-degree robbery for armed robberies in January. The men were both arrested on Jan. 18.
In those cases the two men allegedly wore ski masks and carried semiautomatic weapons. Although they initially admitted to committing the robberies, they later pleaded not guilty to the charges.
Bail for both men had been reduced to $20,000 from $100,000 in the first four robbery cases, but both men remain in custody at the Oahu Community Correctional Center.
Government sues group for 1999 oil spill off Kauai
The U.S. government filed a lawsuit in federal court yesterday against a corporation and its officers for $216,584 in the cleanup of an oil spill and wreckage after a fishing boat ran aground off Kauai in 1999.On April 10, 1999, the Van Loi, a longline fishing boat, ran aground on a reef near Kapaa, and a team of oil recovery experts tried to pump 16,000 gallons of diesel fuel out of the boat before its tanks ruptured. But the boat broke apart and the oil spilled.
The suit names Van Loi Corp., which was dissolved before the accident, and Malina Le Nguyen, Hung Tuong Cao, John Tran Hung To, Diana Nguen Phan, its officers, shareholders or directors.
In July the U.S. Coast Guard assessed an $11,000 civil penalty against the corporation.
Shooting suspect faces charge for another crime
A man who had been a suspect in the shooting of a Kapahulu pawnshop owner was arraigned yesterday in Circuit Court and pleaded not guilty to an unrelated robbery.Markes Rapoza was charged with the Jan. 18 robbery of Bailey's Antiques, also located on Kapahulu Avenue.
He remains in custody at the Oahu Community Correctional Facility, and bail was confirmed at $100,000.
Rapoza was arrested March 16 in connection with the shooting of a 52-year-old Pearl City man at GH Camera Pawn & Gold Exchange, 936 Kapahulu Ave.
Waimanalo car crash suspect is arrested
A man charged with manslaughter in connection with a traffic death in Waimanalo 15 months ago was arrested at his home this morning by state deputy sheriffs and Honolulu police.A bench warrant was issued for Kam K. Williams, 20, of Waimanalo, after he was indicted by an Oahu grand jury this week.
He is charged with manslaughter for allegedly causing the death of Lorrie-Ann Wiley, 32, in a head-on collision near the entrance to Olomana Golf Links on Jan. 2, 2001.
Williams' bail is $100,000. He faces a possible maximum sentence of 20 years if convicted.
At the time of the collision, Williams' license was suspended for a prior drunken-driving conviction. Police said that Williams tested above the legal blood alcohol limit in the hours after the crash.
H-3 tunnels will be closed for cleaning
The state Department of Transportation plans to close the H-3 tunnels for cleaning tomorrow and Sunday, then again April 20-21.The Halawa-bound tunnel will be closed from 7 p.m. tomorrow night until 7 a.m. Sunday.
The Kaneohe-bound tunnel will be closed on April 20 from 7 p.m. until 7 a.m. the following day.
Motorists are advised to take alternate routes.
Postal Service shows off stamps evoking 50 states
The Postal Service unveiled a series of stamps yesterday featuring colorful images that evoke each of the 50 states.The "Greetings from America" series was inspired by large-letter vintage postcards that advertised destinations.
The Hawaii stamp shows Waikiki Beach and Diamond Head with a yellow hibiscus, the state flower.
Florida's stamp depicts a palm tree-lined beach and the space shuttle. The Texas stamp features the Alamo and a longhorn steer.
The stamp front reads "Greetings from," followed by the state name. The backing paper of the stamp sheet lists state facts. The stamps are sold in sheets of 50 for $17.
The Postal Service printed 200 million stamps and a number of promotional postcards for the series, spokeswoman Leisa Tolliver-Gay said. The series, intended to promote domestic tourism, is a joint project between the Postal Service and the Travel Industry Association of America.
Cayetanos' new canine is a furry street fighter
A new first dog is roaming the grounds of Washington Place.Gov. Ben Cayetano said yesterday his family has a bichon frise, a small white dog the governor describes as "a little puff ball." The governor's bulldog, Boomer, died last year.
When reporters recalled that the governor has said he favored a German shepherd, he acknowledged that the bichon frise is wife Vicky's dog.
According to the American Kennel Club's Web site, bichon frise means "curly lap dog."
It is a dog bred for French royalty, but during the French Revolution it became a street dog, and only the toughest survived, the club said.
Pearl shipyard apprentice program to hold job fair
The Pearl Harbor Naval Shipyard Apprentice Program is holding a job fair from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. tomorrow at the Marine Education and Training Center, 10 Sand Island Access Road.The event offers employment and curriculum information for the 100 positions filled annually by the shipyard.
The four-year program, facilitated by Honolulu Community College, pays students apprentice wages as they work toward an associate's degree.
For more information, call Jason Holm at 474-0272.
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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. Corrections and clarifications
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffHONOLULU Honolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
Woman, 58, critically hurt in pedestrian accident
A 58-year-old woman was critically injured in a pedestrian traffic accident in Waianae this morning. Police said the woman was struck by a vehicle near the corner of Lualualei Homestead Road and Farrington Highway at 6:52 a.m.She was flown by MedEvac helicopter to Queen's Medical Center, where she was reported in critical condition.
Kalihi man hospitalized after crashing motorcycle
A 32-year-old Kalihi man is in serious condition at Queen's Medical Center after crashing a stolen motorcycle this morning on the H-1 Freeway. Police said the man appeared to have been racing with a vehicle, also reported stolen, when he crashed into a guardrail near the Palama Street underpass at 3:20 a.m.A witness told police the vehicle stopped, someone got out, picked up the injured man then drove off.
The occupants of the car dropped the man off in Queen's emergency room parking area then left.
Police seek 3 in beating and robbery in McCully
Police are looking for three suspects who beat a 37-year-old man with a baseball bat Wednesday afternoon and stole his wallet. The man said he was walking near the McCully Zippy's Restaurant about 5:20 p.m. when he was approached by two males.After beating him and taking his wallet, the suspects fled in a red van driven by a third male, police said.
The victim was listed in fair condition at Queen's Medical Center.
LEEWARD OAHU
Based on tip, police find a grave above Makakilo
Based on an anonymous tip, Honolulu police recovered the remains of a woman from a grave in the mountains above Makakilo Tuesday afternoon.Criminal Investigation Division detectives returned the next day with technicians from the Army's Central Identification Laboratory, a Honolulu Fire Department rescue company and HPD's Specialized Services Division to retrieve the body, said homicide Lt. Bill Kato.
"The body of a female was in various stages of decomposition," he said.
The case is classified as an unattended death pending an autopsy and positive identification by the Honolulu Medical Examiner's Office.
NORTH SHORE
Traffic crash victim was resident of Waialua
The woman who died Tuesday in a traffic collision in Waialua has been identified as Mary Tvetene, 60, of Waialua. Police said Tvetene was entering Farrington Highway from Naluahi Street when her car was struck by a pickup truck traveling toward Waialua High School on Farrington. The truck driver, a 32-year-old Mililani man, was taken to Queen's Medical Center where he was in fair condition. Police said the pickup driver may have been speeding.
Man beaten with bat and robbed in McCully
Police are looking for three suspects who beat a 37-year-old man with a baseball bat Wednesday afternoon and stole his wallet. The man told police he was walking near the McCully Zippy's Restaurant about 5:20 p.m. when he was approached by two large males, one of them carrying a baseball bat.The man said he ran away after the male with the bat hit him. The two males caught up with the victim and continued to beat him and took his wallet, police said. The suspects then fled in a red van driven by a third male, police said.
The victim was listed in fair condition at Queen's Medical Center.
CENTRAL OAHU
5 teenagers are airlifted after they get lost hiking
Five teenagers were individually airlifted to Iliahi Elementary School around 8:30 last night after they got lost while hiking in Wahiawa.Two girls and three boys, ages 15 to 17, were hiking along the stream of the Wahiawa Reservoir for about an hour when they could not find their way down the mountain.
Fire Capt. Richard Soo said one of the hikers called for help on a cellular phone.
NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Kauai drowning victim was Massachusetts man
LIHUE >> The Kauai Fire Department has identified the man who drowned Wednesday at Queen's Bath when he and two family members were hit by large waves and swept into the ocean as Skip Simpson, 44, of Halifax, Mass.His brother, who was rescued by lifeguards, was treated and released at Wilcox Memorial Hospital. His first name was not made public, but he also is from Massachusetts.
Their nephew, a Kauai resident, was able to climb the rocks to safety.
5 30-foot ficus trees poisoned in West Hawaii
PUAKO, Hawaii >> Police are looking for culprits who poisoned five 30-foot ficus trees at Puako in West Hawaii, they said.The trees were located on the seaward side of Puako Beach Drive, across the street from the Puako Condominiums. One or more people drilled holes in the base of the trees and applied poison, which killed them, police said.
The trees were valued at more than $10,000. Their owner is offering a $5,000 reward for the arrest and conviction of the persons responsible.
Anyone with information is asked to call police at 887-3080.
