Newswatch
Police, Fire, Courts

By Star-Bulletin Staff

Michigan warrant out for ex-priest in Hawaii

An arrest warrant has been issued in Michigan for a former Roman Catholic priest living in Hawaii who is charged with criminal sexual conduct.

Robert Burkholder, 82, of Leeward Oahu, was charged Aug. 27 with two counts of second-degree criminal sexual conduct.

He is accused of assaulting a 13-year-old Detroit-area boy in 1986.

The warrant for Burkholder's arrest was issued Friday, the Detroit News reported today.

"He's going to be arrested over the next several days," Douglas Baker, a deputy chief assistant Wayne County prosecutor, told the newspaper.

In a recent interview with the Detroit News, Burkholder acknowledged having sexual relationships with up to two dozen boys as young as 11.

Burkholder's attorney, Irving Tukel of Bingham Farms, said his client has dementia.

Tukel said he planned to ask for a competency examination in Hawaii.

Electrical short cuts power to Hilo areas

A power outage affected hotels, condominiums and other customers in Hilo yesterday, according to the Hawaii Electric Light Company.

The outage started at 8:17 a.m. because of an electrical short circuit in HELCO's underground power distribution system along Banyan Drive, the company said.

Power was restored by 1 p.m.

Mink still in ICU after developing pneumonia

U.S. Rep. Patsy Mink remained in serious condition in the intensive care unit at Straub Clinic & Hospital last night. Mink was admitted to Straub Aug. 30 suffering from chicken pox and moved to ICU Sept. 1 after developing pneumonia.

NW habitats won't hurt economy, study says

Naming 1,232 acres of Nihoa, Necker and Laysan islands federal "critical habitats" to protect five endangered species of plants wouldn't cause significant economic harm, a consultant's study concludes.

The public can review the study of economic effects on these three Northwest Hawaiian Islands by requesting it from the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service at 808-541-3441. The study is also available on the Web at pacificislands.fws.gov.

Comments on the analysis will be accepted until Oct. 15.

Critical habitats are defined by the Fish & Wildlife Service as "geographic areas considered essential for the conservation of a threatened or endangered species and that may require special management considerations."

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Corrections and clarifications >> Photos of life in Fiji on Pages F1 and F3 in yesterday's travel section were taken by Nancy Wilcox. Captions with the photos incorrectly stated they were taken by Nancy Ryan. 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

NORTH SHORE

Suspect, 24, arrested in fatal hit-and-run

A man wanted in a November 2000 fatal hit-and-run accident in Waialua has been arrested.

Richard Dayton, 24, was arrested last Tuesday on a bench warrant in the death of Isaac Kapua, 54, who was struck by a car and killed while standing in the driveway of his Haleiwa Beach Road.

According to his indictment in July by a state grand jury, Dayton was drunk and driving the car. Dayton was indicted on charges of negligent homicide and fleeing an accident scene.

Abandoned-car fire sets off brush blaze

A brush fire scorched between 10 and 12 acres in Waialua yesterday, according to Capt. Jim Mensching of the Sunset Beach Fire Station.

Investigators suspect the blaze was intentionally set by someone who tried to set an abandoned vehicle afire, Mensching said. Because of the wind, the fire spread across the brush.

The fire started about 10:12 a.m. between Kaukonahua Road and Hukilau Loop and was extinguished at 3:46 p.m. No homes or livestock were threatened, Mensching said.

HONOLULU

2 cyclists critical after sliding to avoid van

A motorcycle driver and his woman passenger were injured critically yesterday after the driver laid down his bike to avoid colliding with a van carrying 15 Japanese tourists, police said.

The driver, 35, and his passenger, 40, were taken to Queen's Medical Center after the 7:50 a.m. accident in Kapahulu.

Police said the man was driving on Campbell Avenue but "dropped" his 1995 Suzuki motorcycle to avoid hitting the van, which had just turned onto Campbell from Herbert Street.

Police arrest suspect in burglary and threats

Police arrested a 26-year-old Honolulu man Saturday night for investigation of burglary, terroristic threatening and criminal contempt of court.

Police said the suspect and the victim live in the same Date Street apartment complex and have a history of disagreements. The victim reported the suspect forced his way into the apartment, assaulted him and apparently took several items.

Suspect in killing let go, pending autopsy

A 32-year-old man arrested Saturday in connection with the beating death of another man was released yesterday pending results of an autopsy.

Police said the victim, 40, and the suspect were involved in a fist fight Saturday morning in a parking garage near the intersection of Alapai and Lusitana streets. The victim returned to his apartment where he collapsed. He later died at Queen's Medical Center.

After the fight, the suspect called police to report that he had been injured in a fight.

Boy, 15, critical after moped-truck collision

A 15-year-old boy remained in critical condition at Queen's Medical Center this morning after crashing his moped head-on into a pickup truck yesterday on Tantalus Drive.

The boy was traveling south on Tantalus Drive near Kolonahe Place about 3:30 p.m. when he failed to negotiate a curve and crossed into on-coming traffic. Police said the boy was not wearing any safety equipment and was speeding.

CENTRAL OAHU

Waipio man arrested in negligent homicide

A 20-year-old Waipio man has been arrested in a negligent homicide investigation in connection with a fatal head-on traffic collision in Maili over the weekend.

Police said the suspect was traveling west on Paakea Road about 6:20 p.m. Saturday when he lost control of his vehicle and crashed into an oncoming car driven by Judith Gouveia, 57, of Maili. Gouveia's car rolled over and was knocked 75 feet off the roadway. She was taken to Waianae Coast Comprehensive Health Center, where she died.

Police said the suspect reported he was speeding. He was released pending further investigation.

Wahiawa man charged with sex assault of girl

Police charged a 41-year-old Wahiawa man with nine counts of third-degree sexual assault Saturday.

Police arrested Antonio Santos on Sept. 8 after an 11-year-old girl told her mother that he had sexually assaulted her, police said.

Santos is being held in lieu of $100,000 bail.

LEEWARD OAHU

Nanakuli man arrested in burglary, assault

Police arrested a 21-year-old Nanakuli man for burglary and first-degree sexual assault Saturday.

The man was arrested at 5:50 a.m. in front of his home. Police did not release other details of the case.

EAST OAHU

4 divers rescued after caught by currents

Fire rescue crews rescued four divers from the ocean off Halona Point near the Blowhole yesterday.

Two men and two women in their 20s were having a difficult time swimming to shore because of strong currents about 5:40 p.m., Fire Capt. Richard Soo said.

Soo said two divers were picked up by a rescue boat while the other two were airlifted from the ocean by the fire department helicopter. No one was injured, he said.

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS

Big Isle kayaker dies after ocean accident

A 56-year-old Big Island kayaker who was found unconscious Wednesday died Saturday at Straub Clinic & Hospital in Honolulu.

Ronald Walker was originally reported missing Tuesday night off the North Kohala Coast after he failed to return from a snorkeling trip. The Coast Guard found him Wednesday morning, unconscious and unresponsive, with his kayak on some rocks about three miles north of Mahukona Harbor.

Police seek Kau man missing for a week

Big Island police are searching for Robertino Matthew Erickson, 38, who failed to return to his Hawaiian Ocean View Estates home after working at the Four Seasons Resort Hualalai last Monday, police said.

He was last seen driving to work in a white, two-door, 1989 Chrysler Lebaron with a black convertible top and Hawaii plate, license number HUV-026.

Erickson is 6 feet 2 inches, about 300 pounds, with black hair, brown eyes and a fair complexion. Police said he was under mental stress.

Anyone with information may call CrimeStoppers at 329-8181 in Kona and 961-8300 in Hilo.