Newswatch
Police, Fire, Courts
Star-Bulletin staff and wire
Fake flea control brands draw EPA's attention
Federal officials warned Hawaii pet owners and pet supply stores yesterday not to buy counterfeits of two popular flea control medications.The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency in San Francisco ordered pet supply distributors and retailers in Hawaii and California to stop selling the fake Frontline and Advantage products allegedly sold by a Honolulu company, Pang & Son, the agency said in a news release.
The counterfeit flea control products appear to have been imported illegally, the EPA said.
The outside packages look legitimate, but the applicators inside the carton are labeled and packaged for overseas markets, the applicators may not have the proper child-resistant packaging and the package may not have the required instructional leaflet, the announcement said.
Pet owners can't be assured that the pesticide dosage is correct for the animal described on the retail carton, said the EPA, which has posted detailed information on its Web site.
"Without proper pesticide registration, we just don't know what is being sold," said Pam Cooper, the EPA's pesticide section chief for the Pacific Southwest region. "Consumers want to be assured that the product they purchase will be effective and meets U.S. product guidelines."
The EPA is investigating other potential counterfeit and illegal products being sold through other stores and distributors.
The agency has alerted Bayer Corp., and Merial Ltd., makers of Frontline and Advantage, about the "flood of counterfeit products currently on the market," the EPA said.
Pet owners concerned about their animals should contact their veterinarian, the agency said.
In Hawaii, the stop-sale orders were issued to City Feed, Crazy Canine, Enchanted Lake Pet Center, Feed Trough, Marina Pets, Mililani Pets, Pets Discount, Pets Plus and Pets Unlimited.
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffHONOLULU
Suspect allegedly hits officer inside cellblock
A 32-year-old police officer suffered pain and slight swelling after a 20-year-old man punched him in the face at about 1:40 a.m. yesterday at the Downtown police station.The officer took the suspect to the cellblock because he was disorderly, according to the police report. After the handcuffs were removed, the suspect charged the officer, who was attempting to leave the cell.
The assault is pending investigation.
Brawl erupts near Ala Moana Center
A brawl last night near Ala Moana Shopping Center involving as many as 10 teenagers sent one man to the hospital with multiple cuts and a possible concussion, according to police and witnesses.The fight started just before 6 p.m. in the alley next to Pet's Discount on Kapiolani Boulevard.
A witness who helped break up the dispute said there were about 10 people, who identified themselves as Waipahu High School students, "grappling with each other."
Once the groups parted, four people had minor cuts and bruises and one man had a possible concussion.
A witness said the attackers had all fled to the shopping center, where police were looking for them last night.
Crews remove tree that falls on Tantalus
City crews spent hours yesterday clearing a 50-foot tree that fell over Tantalus Drive the day before.The tree fell near the 3600 block at about 2:30 p.m. Friday, blocking both lanes in the area, and workers began clearing the road at about 10 yesterday morning. The drive was reopened by the afternoon.
LEEWARD OAHU
Brother arrested for allegedly making point
Police arrested a 48-year-old man yesterday for threatening his brother with a fishing spear.The incident occurred in the 59-200 block of Kamehameha Highway at about 10:30 a.m. during an argument between the two men. The victim, a 43-year-old man, was uninjured.
Honolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
