Newswatch
Police, Fire, Courts

By Star-Bulletin Staff

Business sues Maui County over flooding

WAILUKU >> A Lahaina business has filed a lawsuit against Maui County, charging that it contributed to the flooding in late January 2002.

Naomi Malone, owner of Dan's Greenhouse on Prison Street, alleges the runoff from a construction site at the county's Lahaina Water Treatment Plant near Lahainaluna High School contributed to the downhill flooding, according to the lawsuit filed Tuesday.

Another lawsuit was filed recently against the county by Lahaina residents Troy and Rebecca Richardson, whose Wainee Street home was flooded during the same period. They allege the county knew about the flooding problem and failed to take remedial action.

Both lawsuits seek damages to be established at trial.

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Corrections and clarifications >> The Japanese feature film "Mana" is finishing 14 days of filming on the Big Island. An item on Page D5 on Wednesday said incorrectly that it was 14 weeks. 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

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS

Big Isle police seek inmate who escaped

Raylad Browne: He escaped prison on the Big Isle and may have fled to the Puna District.

Big Island police want help finding Raylad Hauole Brown, 25, who escaped about 2 p.m. yesterday from the Hale Nani Correctional Facility.

Brown may have fled to the Puna District or the Desha Avenue area of Hilo, corrections authorities said.

Brown is described as 5 feet 8, 195 pounds, with brown eyes and brown hair topped with a reddish fringe. He was wearing blue shorts, a blue T-shirt and slippers.

Anyone with information is asked to call Officer Joseph Feliciano, 961-2213, or the police nonemergency number at 935-3311.

Pellet gun vandals strike again in Hilo

Vandals who used pellet guns to shoot parked vehicles in Hilo earlier this month have struck again, this time in the Kanoelehua Industrial Area, police said.

The latest victims include at least two Hilo businesses whose windows were damaged. One business, on Makaala Street, was damaged on Monday, while the other, on Kanoelehua Avenue, was vandalized on Wednesday.

Police said a rash of vandalism was reported on Jan. 8 after vehicles were damaged in or near the downtown area.

Anyone with information is asked to call Officer John "Masa" Pagay at 961-8892, Officer Van Reyes at 961-2395, Hilo patrol at 961-2311 or CrimeStoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo or 329-8181 in Kailua-Kona.

LEEWARD OAHU

HPD charges man with assaulting teen

Honolulu police charged a 39-year-old man yesterday with two counts of first-degree sexual assault for allegedly assaulting a 14-year-old girl several times last Friday in Waipahu.

Police said the victim identified Leuii Mamea, of Waipahu, as her assailant. He is being held in lieu of $35,000 bail.

Instructor arrested in alleged sex attack

Police are seeking sexual assault charges against a 62-year-old karate instructor for allegedly assaulting a 13-year-old girl who was his student.

The girl reported she was sexually assaulted at a home in Waianae between Dec. 11 and Jan. 22, police said.

WINDWARD OAHU

Man suffers fatal heart attack in car

A 49-year-old Laie man apparently suffered a heart attack and crashed into a wall about 6:50 p.m. yesterday as he turned onto Kahekili Highway from the Likelike Highway offramp, police said.

Police said the man may have passed out or died before the crash. He was taken to Castle Medical Center where he was pronounced dead. His name was not released pending notification of his next-of-kin.

HONOLULU

Would-be robber flees after being ignored

Police are seeking a would-be robber who fled empty-handed yesterday after a teller at American Savings Bank in Ala Moana Center ignored his demand note.

Police said the teller walked away from the counter after the man gave her a note about 5:50 p.m.

He is described as in his 40s, 5 feet 5, 130 to 140 pounds, with black hair, brown eyes and a mustache. He was wearing a blue-and-white aloha shirt and light-colored pants.