Newswatch
By Star-Bulletin Staff
Isle-bound air traveler is arrested in prank
BOSTON » State police arrested a teenage boy at Logan International Airport yesterday morning after security officials found a note containing a reference to a bomb inside his luggage.David Socha, 17, of Paxton, was on his way to Honolulu with his parents but was arrested after security screeners found a profanity-laced note in his checked luggage, said Ann Davis, a spokeswoman for the Transportation Security Administration.
The note said, "Have you found the bomb yet?" and then, "Nope, just clothes," according to Davis. "Naturally, they searched his bag, and there was nothing else in the bag, but even if it was a prank, we take it very seriously," she said.
Socha was arraigned in East Boston District Court on a charge of making a terrorist threat. He was released and is due back in court Sept. 26.
Lingle names curator for Washington Place
Corinne Chun Fujimoto, a former curator at Iolani Palace, has been named curator of historic Washington Place, Gov. Linda Lingle's office announced yesterday.She replaces Jim Bartels, who died of cancer at age 57 on April 20 in California.
Fujimoto had followed Bartels once before, as curator of Iolani Palace, a position she held from 1996-2001.
The 154-year-old Washington Place was home to Queen Liliuokalani and 13 territorial and state governors. A new governor's residence next to Washington Place was built for Lingle and her successors.
Police, Fire, CourtsBy Star-Bulletin staff
NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Big Island police charged two Mexican nationals yesterday with first-degree promotion of a dangerous drug after a parcel containing $26,000 worth of cocaine was sent to a Waimea home.
2 Mexican nationals face drug chargesLazaro Mendoza Cardenas, 42, and Miguel Angel Torres Andres, 36, were arrested Thursday after a UPS parcel being shipped from Mexico was intercepted by the U.S. Customs Service in Kentucky, according to police.
Customs agents recovered about a half a pound of cocaine in the parcel, which was addressed to "Lazaro C. Mendoza" at a Kipahele Street address.
Police and agents from the U.S. Customs Service and the Immigration and Naturalization Service made a "controlled delivery" to the Kipahele Street address.
Police arrested Cardenas and Andres after the parcel was opened.
Both men are being held in the Hilo police cellblock in lieu of $200,000 bail each.
NORTH SHORE
Fire officials said they believe Tuesday's fire in the annex of the Waialua Sugar Plantation was intentionally set.
Police suspect arson behind fire in WaialuaDamages were estimated at $52,000, which included the 2,000 books, videos and music destroyed in the fire. The items were being stored for a Friends of the Waialua Library sale.
Fire spokesman Capt. Emmit Kane said investigators found flammable fluids in the main area of the building.
He said police will conduct a criminal property damage investigation.
HONOLULU
A fire that was intentionally set damaged a garage in Palolo about 12:28 a.m. yesterday, fire officials said.
Neighbors saw man flee from fire sceneThe fire at 1722 10th Ave. started in two places and caused about $2,500 damage, officials said.
Neighbors said they saw a man running away just before the fire, according to officials.
WAIKIKI
Police officers said tourists reported seeing a 4- to 5-foot shark around 6:15 p.m. yesterday offshore of the Sheraton Waikiki hotel.
Beach remains open despite shark sightingPolice did not close the beach.
Honolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
