Newswatch
Police, Fire, Courts
Star-Bulletin staff and wire
Sperm whale carcass drifts in Kaneohe Bay
A dead 45-foot-long sperm whale drifted onto the reef flat about 500 yards southeast of Kapapa Island in Kaneohe Bay, the state Department of Land and Natural Resources said yesterday.Ocean-users were advised to stay clear of the area because sharks could be present.
"Even after the carcass is removed, the public should avoid swimming within a half-mile radius of the stranding site for another 24 hours to avoid possible encounters with lingering sharks," department Chairman Peter Young said.
An attempt to remove the carcass was scheduled for last night. State officials asked boaters to steer clear of the northern reef flat area of the bay between the sandbar and barrier reef until the carcass is removed.
Dozens of beachgoers get box jellyfish stings
About 85 people were stung by box jellyfish off Waikiki yesterday, and authorities said nearly 800 of the creatures washed ashore on Oahu beaches.Signs were posted yesterday at Waikiki and Ala Moana beaches after the jellyfish were spotted in the water. Jellyfish were also seen at Hanauma Bay, Waimea Bay, off Makaha and Pokai Bay.
Wednesday was the peak for the almost monthly jellyfish invasion. The influx was expected to be smaller today.
4 islands stage walk for charity tomorrow
The Visitor Industry Charity Walk, Hawaii's biggest single-day fund-raiser, will be held tomorrow on four islands, with part of the money raised going toward public education."We are 'Walking for Our Future' this year," said Ernest Nishizaki, Charity Walk chairman and chief operating officer of Kyo-Ya Co. "At least $100,000 of funds raised from this year's Charity Walk will be dedicated to benefit Hawaii's public education."
Sponsored by the Hawaii Hotel & Lodging Association, the Charity Walk takes place simultaneously on Oahu, Maui, Kauai and the Big Island.
Last year, more than 10,900 walkers on four islands helped raise $810,000 for more than 180 local charities. For more information and applications, visit www.charitywalk.org.
Oahu's 7-mile walk will begin at Ala Moana Beach Park's McCoy Pavilion at 6 a.m.; will continue through Waikiki, Kapiolani Park and along the Ala Wai Canal; and will end back at McCoy Pavilion for plate lunches and a concert.
Maui's 6-mile walk will begin at the War Memorial Soccer Field at 7 a.m. The Big Island's 6-mile walk will start at 7 a.m. at the Old Kona Airport Events Pavilion. Kauai's 3-mile walk begins at 7 a.m. at the Historic County Building.
State victims program gets $1.9 million grant
The U.S. Department of Justice awarded the state $1.9 million for its Crime Victims Services program, U.S. Attorney Edward Kubo Jr. announced this week.The grant will fund the state Department of Attorney General program that awards money to local community organizations providing services to crime victims.
Police, Fire, Courts
By Star-Bulletin staffLEEWARD OAHU
Police seek suspects in Pearl City theft of airplanes
Honolulu police are looking for the suspect who stole a single-axle trailer that was hauling a pedal airplane and an ultralight aircraft valued at more than $4,000.
Police are looking for a suspect who stole a trailer, which was hauling this pedal airplane, from a storage area at the boxcar track in Pearl City in December.
The items were taken from a storage area at the boxcar track located at 990 Acacia Road in Pearl City during the last week of December.
Anyone with information about the case may contact Lt. Derek Shimatsu directly at 455-6787. Anonymous calls may be made to CrimeStoppers at 955-8300 or by dialing *CRIME on a cellular phone.
3 suspects sought in Waianae joy ride
Police are looking for three men who allegedly stole the car of three teenage girls after driving around Waianae with them.Police said the driver, an 18-year-old Pearl City female, and two 16-year-olds from Ewa Beach and Honolulu, met the men at the beach. The six drove around Waianae when the men suggested they visit a friend's farm in the valley, police said.
The men forced the three teenagers out of the car on Puuhulu Road at about 10:55 p.m. and drove off, according to police. The car was recovered yesterday morning on nearby Halona Road.
Police said one suspect is 22 years old; another is 18. They do not know the age of the third male. All three face a possible second-degree robbery charge.
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[THE COURTS]Bookkeeper allegedly siphoned off $900,000
The former office manager and bookkeeper for a local pest control company has been indicted for allegedly stealing about $900,000 from her employer during 2 1/2 years.Joann Rodrigues was charged Wednesday with first-degree theft, 13 counts of second-degree forgery and money laundering.
Rodrigues allegedly was writing checks for the company made payable to herself in amounts averaging $5,700 a check. She could not be reached for comment.
Family files suit over fatal police shooting
The family of a 27-year-old woman who was fatally shot by Maui police in January has filed a wrongful death suit in Maui Circuit Court seeking "substantial recovery from the county," according to the family's Honolulu attorney."I've talked to a dozen witnesses who saw exactly what happened, and everyone says this was an unjustified shooting, that the police use of force was unnecessary," said David Gierlach, who is representing Lisa Kaina's family. "They shouldn't have shot her."
Kaina, a mother of three, was killed in Paia after police said she refused to stop and tried to reverse a 2004 white Cadillac into an officer after a pursuit. The car was allegedly stolen.
A Maui police spokesman could not be reached for comment last night.
Maui man arrested on state tax charges
A Maui man arrested last week on a grand jury warrant will be arraigned Thursday in Maui Circuit Court.Neil A. Rhoads was indicted by a Maui grand jury on April 23 for allegedly filing false state income tax returns and second-degree attempted theft. The indictment was sealed until his arrest last Friday.
Rhoads is accused of filing false returns for 2001 and 2002, reporting that his adjusted gross income was zero when it should have been more, according to the state Tax Department. He was able to claim tax refunds of more than $300 which he was allegedly not entitled to.
Rhoads appealed a similar case to the Hawaii Supreme Court, which ruled in July 2002 that his wages were taxable, said Stephen Hironaka, criminal tax investigator. But when Rhoads filed his 2002 return in 2003, he maintained his earlier position that his wages were not taxable.
Filing a false tax return is punishable by a fine of up to $100,000 and up to three years in prison for each tax year. Second-degree attempted theft carries fines of up to $10,000 and five years in prison.
Kona gym enterprise faces tax accusations
Indictments have been filed against Crush Inc., doing business as Gold's Gym, Kailua-Kona, and its principal officer, James P. Moser, for allegedly failing to file annual general excise tax returns from 1998 to 2001.
Moser will be arraigned in Honolulu District Court next Friday.
Failure to file is a misdemeanor punishable by fines of up to $25,000 a year and up to one year in jail. Corporations can be fined up to $100,000 a year.
Honolulu Police Department Crimestoppers
