Newswatch
Star-Bulletin staff and wire
Recovery of helicopter wreckage set to begin
LIHUE » A privately owned helicopter capable of lifting the wreck of the Bali Hai Helicopter Tours Jet Ranger that crashed last Friday evening was scheduled to arrive on Kauai this morning to begin recovery operations.The bodies of four of the five people killed in the crash on a steep mountain slope were recovered Monday and Tuesday. One body remains buried beneath the wreckage and cannot be recovered until it is lifted off the mountain.
Don Cameron, general manager of Pacific Helicopters, said yesterday the priority will be the recovery of the body, but the pace of the effort will depend on the weather.
National Transportation Safety Board investigator Nicole Charnon will supervise the recovery.
She said the wreckage will be taken to a hangar at Lihue Airport until the investigation is complete.
Maui, Kauai get grants for resistance to gangs
The Maui and Kauai police departments have received more than $76,000 from the Department of Justice and the Bureau of Justice Assistance for their gang-resistance education and training programs.The grant will be used to train police officers to teach school-age children life skills, gang awareness and anti-violence techniques.
The Maui Police Department received $34,000, and the Kauai Police Department received $42,499.
U.S. Attorney Edward Kubo said the grants will teach isle students the skills they need to avoid gang pressure and youth violence.
By Star-Bulletin staff
HONOLULU
Elderly pedestrian hurt in King Street accident
Honolulu police closed a portion of North King Street yesterday after a 71-year-old pedestrian was struck by a motor vehicle and seriously injured.The incident took place shortly after 4 p.m. while the victim was in a crosswalk near the Kalihi Shopping Center at 2295 N. King St.
Police closed King Street in both directions between Gulick Avenue and Middle Street. Police said the victim was initially reported in critical condition but then later upgraded to serious condition.
4 males are sought in Kalihi robbery
Police are looking for four men described as in their 20s who allegedly robbed a 23-year-old man at knifepoint and injured him during the holdup.Police said the suspects confronted the victim as he was walking home in Kalihi on Wednesday night and asked for money. The suspects assaulted the victim, and one of them cut him twice with a knife, police said. The suspects fled on foot, police said.
The victim walked several blocks to the Kalihi Police Station and reported the attack.
He was then taken to the Queen's Medical Center, where he was treated and released.
Man is critically hurt after crashing mo-ped
A 24-year-old mo-ped rider was critically injured Wednesday night in Kalihi after he failed to make a turn and sideswiped a pickup truck.Police said the Manoa man was traveling Koko Head-bound in the right lane of North King Street about 10:30 p.m. near the Kalihi Shopping Center when the accident occurred.
Police said the victim, who was not wearing a helmet, was thrown from the mo-ped.
The 40-year-old man driving the truck was not hurt. Police said speed and alcohol could be factors in the crash.
NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
41 arrested on Big Isle in task force operation
KAILUA-KONA » The U.S. Marshals Service announced yesterday the arrest of 41 people in West Hawaii wanted as fugitives and identified as career criminals.Hawaii County police said the operation, called Pono Hawaii-Kona, concentrated on people charged with drug offenses or who have criminal histories of drug offenses or drug-related violence.
The operation was conducted Sunday through Tuesday by the Hawaii Fugitive Task Force, which consists of 11 county, state and federal law enforcement agencies.
Mark Hanohano, U.S. marshal for the District of Hawaii, said the success of the mission is indicated by the capture of 41 people and clearance of 71 outstanding bench warrants in just three days.
Police said those arrested face 98 charges, 25 of them for felonies. The arrestees included 30 men and 11 women.
"This operation will have a major impact on reducing street crime and drug offenses," said police Chief Lawrence Mahuna.
The operation was the third conducted by the task force. Operation Kaulike, conducted on Maui in August 2003, resulted in 64 arrests, and Operation Pono in East Hawaii ended July 1 and netted 98 fugitives.
LEEWARD OAHU
Police release sketch of robbery suspect
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The suspects, one of them armed with a handgun and disguised with a Halloween mask, walked into the Morning Glory store at 91-1001 Kaimalie St. about 9 p.m. Tuesday and demanded money. Both men then fled toward Fort Weaver Road with an undisclosed amount of money.
At the same time, a resident in the area reported to police seeing a male dressed in a red jacket run through his yard. The suspect was last seen running toward Ahona Street in Ewa Beach.
Both suspects were described as in their early 20s, 6 feet tall, weighing 140 pounds, with thin builds, black complexions, short black kinky hair and brown eyes. The suspect with the mask and the gun was last seen wearing a red flannel jacket and jeans, while the second suspect was last seen wearing a gray short-sleeved T-shirt and jeans.
Detective James Nobriga is requesting that anyone with information about this case contact him at 692-4507. Anonymous calls may be made to CrimeStoppers at 955-8300 or by dialing *CRIME on a cellular phone.
Honolulu Police Department Crimestoppers