Arakawa must serve
at least 18 years

The parole board rules on the ex-cop
who was driving drunk when
he killed Dana Ambrose

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Staff and news reports

The Hawaii Paroling Authority decided yesterday that former Honolulu police officer Clyde Arakawa must serve 18 years of his 20-year manslaughter sentence before becoming eligible for parole.

A jury convicted Arakawa in February of causing the October 2000 accident that killed 19-year-old Dana Ambrose. The jury found that he was driving while intoxicated and was speeding when he ran a red light and plowed into Ambrose's car at the Pali Highway and School Street intersection, killing her instantly.

Circuit Judge Karen Ahn sentenced Arakawa in April to the statutory maximum of 20 years.

Ambrose's family had asked the parole board to require Arakawa to serve his entire 20-year sentence.

City Prosecutor Peter Carlisle had requested an 18-year minimum term.

Arakawa, 50, took responsibility for the accident for the first time last Friday during a hearing before the parole board.

"I am ashamed that I caused the death of an innocent young lady," he said.

He also apologized to the Ambrose family for the "terrible pain" he had caused them.

Ambrose's mother, Susan Ambrose, described Arakawa's words as "too little, too late" after last Friday's hearing.

Prosecutors said Arakawa, who was off-duty at the time, was drunk and ran a red light when his car collided with Ambrose's auto.

The defense argued at trial that Arakawa was not drunk and that it was Ambrose who ran the red light.

Arakawa retired from the police department a few weeks after the crash.

Arakawa's case grew as attention increased after Honolulu Police Chief Lee Donohue acknowledged shortly after the crash that Arakawa had been extended "courtesies" at the crash scene. Arakawa was seen on news video roaming the scene, being comforted by other police officers. He also had a union lawyer summoned to the scene.

Donohue had abut that it had no bearing on the results of the investigation. And after the verdict in February, Carlisle praised the police investigators who worked in the case.

During the trial, Arakawa's defense included the argument that the former police officer was an experienced drinker who has a "resilient liver" that could handle large amounts of alcohol.