Newswatch
Police, Fire, Courts

By Star-Bulletin Staff

Maui Council plans to fill
Kawano's Molokai seat

WAILUKU >> Acting Council Chairman Dane Kane said he plans to hold a special council meeting sometime in early July to select someone to finish the remaining term of the late Council Chairman Patrick Kawano, who represented the island of Molokai.

Kawano's term ends in December. The Council will also have to vote on who will be Council Chairman.

According to the County Charter, the Council has 30 days or until July 22 to select a successor, said Maui County Clerk Roy Hiraga. After July 22 if there is no one chosen, the mayor can fill the position.

Kane said in the discussion of Kawano's replacement, the Council might consider choosing someone who agrees not to run for Kawano's seat in the elections later this year.

Corrections and clarifications >> About 112 of 161 contested citations in Ewa District Court were thrown out between April 26 and June 6, according to Sgt. Bart Canada of the Disabled Parking Enforcement Program. A story on Page A1 on Wednesday incorrectly said the period was between April 26 and May 6. >> Lily Yao is vice chairman of First Hawaiian Bank. An item on Page C2 yesterday incorrectly said that she was vice president. 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

WAIKIKI

Final suspect arrested in Waikiki hotel theft

The third and final suspect in an April robbery and kidnapping of a Japanese tourist has been arrested and charged.

Tucker Dee Chapman, 18, of no known local address, was charged yesterday with robbery, burglary and kidnapping, police said.

He was arrested just before midnight Friday near Kapiolani Boulevard and Sheridan Street. He was being held in lieu of $100,000 bail.

Two other suspects, a 21-year-old Ewa Beach woman and a 37-year-old Waikiki man were arrested earlier and charged.

Police said the April 22 incident occurred just after midnight at the victim's Waikiki hotel room on Nahua Avenue. Police said the tourist from Yokohama, Japan, opened the door for the woman, whom he had met earlier in the day. Then two unknown men barged in to the room, held a handgun to the victim's head and tied him up with duct tape.

The suspects fled with the victim's belongings. The victim was able to notify hotel security, who detained the fleeing woman until police arrived. She was arrested that day. The second suspect was arrested two days later.

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS

Maui woman charged with stealing mail

WAILUKU >> An 18-year-old Maui woman has been charged with mail theft after stolen mail was found in the car she was driving.

Sherron Falces of Kahului is charged with 23 counts of misdemeanor fourth-degree theft and a single count of driving without a license.

An officer stopped the car Falces was driving after noticing she wasn't wearing a seat belt, according to police. She was arrested after telling the officer she didn't have a driver's license and is being held in lieu of $500 bail.

A woman sleeping in the back seat later told police Falces had stolen mail from various neighborhoods on Maui, police said.

Deputy Prosecutor John Tam said he hopes the U.S. attorney will take over prosecution in federal court, where felony charges can be filed against Falces.

Federal officials are investigating a rash of mail thefts on Maui in the past month, including theft from Puunene post office boxes and Kula mail boxes.

EAST OAHU

Woman's body pulled from Hanauma Bay

The body of a 58-year-old woman was pulled from Hanauma Bay on Friday afternoon after she was found floating about 50 yards offshore.

Police said the woman was unresponsive and lifeguards and paramedics were unable to revive her. She was pronounced dead at Queen's Medical Center.

HONOLULU

Sex assault claimed after victim fell asleep

Police yesterday were investigating a report of a sexual assault in the parking lot of 2620 Kaaha St. near University Avenue on Tuesday.

Police said the incident involved a man and woman, both 20, who had met while in Waikiki. Police said the two decided to go to the residence of an acquaintance to get to know each other better. The woman told police she fell asleep in the back of the vehicle and awoke to find the man trying to sexually assault her. Her friend came to her aid and the man left the scene, police said.