Newswatch
Police, Fire, Courts
Star-Bulletin staff and wire
Store faces charges for drug paraphernalia
A Nuuanu liquor store and its owner face additional charges of selling drug paraphernalia stemming from drug busts by local and federal law enforcement earlier this year.Sun Kum Medeiros of Nuuanu Liquor & Sundries, 1624 Nuuanu Ave., is expected to plead guilty tomorrow to charges in last Friday's complaint as well as to a January indictment.
The January indictment had charged Medeiros, husband Edwin and Nuuanu Liquor with two counts of selling drug paraphernalia. Edwin Medeiros, 58, died Sept. 24, five days after an apparently intoxicated customer pushed him during a confrontation, causing him to hit his head. He died of head injuries. William K. Albinio, 38, faces trial for second-degree murder in that case.
The maximum penalty for selling drug paraphernalia is no more than three years' imprisonment and fines of up to $500,000.
Driver in fatal crash to change his plea
A former Hawaii Kai man is expected to change his plea in the August 2001 car crash that killed a popular Holy Trinity teacher.Michael Green, attorney for Nicholas Tudisco, asked Circuit Judge Karl Sakamoto yesterday to continue Tudisco's trial date and set a date for change of his plea of innocent in the next 15 days.
"I will call the family in Florida, and he's in California, and get them here so we can begin the process of healing for everyone," Green said.
Tudisco, who has been suspended from playing baseball at the California Polytechnic State University at San Luis Obispo, was to go to trial next week on a charge of manslaughter in the death of Elizabeth Kekoa, 58. Manslaughter is punishable by a 20-year prison term.
Tudisco was indicted in January for allegedly speeding on the H-1 freeway, spinning out of control and colliding with a median and the van that Kekoa was riding in. Prosecutors said Tudisco had made admissions to police that he had been speeding.
» The Ronald McDonald House Charities of Hawaii has received two $5,000 grants to support its Ronald McDonald house program, which provides temporary housing for neighbor island families of children receiving hospital care.
One grant was from the Friends of Hawaii Charities through its association with the Sony Open and the Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Foundation; and the second, from ABC Stores.
» The Hawaii Maritime Center has received more than $500,000 from Bob Krauss, the Alexander & Baldwin Foundation, and other businesses and individuals to pay off nearly $2 million in debt. The Bishop Museum is in charge of the campaign to eliminate the debt, which should be repaid by the end of 2004.
» Hawaii Pizza Hut has awarded $105,000 in grants to four Hawaii organizations that provide literacy programs, including Read Aloud America, Inc., $50,000; Hawaii Public Television, $25,000; Hawaii Technology Institute, $15,000; and Mutual Assistance Associations Center, $15,000.
By Star-Bulletin staff
Police warn public about dangerous felon
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Police said Kristopher Kealoha is wanted on a parole revocation warrant. Kealoha has had prior convictions for robbery, auto theft, terroristic threatening, drugs and escape.
Kealoha is considered dangerous and could be armed, said police.
Kealoha, a k a Eric Pawai, is described as 5 feet 8 inches tall, 185 pounds, with a muscular build, black hair in a ponytail and brown eyes. He also wears a mustache and goatee, and has multiple tattoos including teardrops under both eyes and writing next to his left eye.
Anyone with information can make an anonymous call to CrimeStoppers at 955-8300 or *CRIME on a cell phone.
WINDWARD OAHU
Stakeout nets suspect and stolen computer
Police arrested a 36-year-old Hauula man for allegedly stealing another man's computer, after the victim arranged to get the computer back.Police said after the victim's computer equipment was stolen from his home on Saturday, he put out word on the street that a cash reward would be given for the return of his belongings.
On Tuesday he received a phone call from a man who claimed he had the computer, and a meeting was set up for that evening, police said.
The victim, 62, called police, who then conducted surveillance at the site of the meeting near the Ala Moana Hotel and arrested the suspect.
NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Denver man dies after snorkeling near Lanai
A 61-year-old Denver man died yesterday after passing out while on a snorkeling trip from Maui to Lanai.Police said the man was snorkeling with the Pacific Whale Foundation when his companion, also from Denver, noticed he had passed out.
She alerted the foundation crew, who placed the man on a kayak and performed CPR on him. The man was brought to the foundation's boat, where the crew continued to do CPR, police said.
The boat sailed to Manele Harbor, and the man was taken by ambulance to Lanai Community Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 1:55 p.m.
Honolulu Police Department Crimestoppers