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Fireworks vendor allegedly resells permits, loses license

Honolulu Fire Department officials have revoked a license to sell fireworks from a vendor who allegedly was reselling city fireworks permits.

The vendor was operating at 2300 N. King St. when his license was revoked Wednesday by Fire Department officials. Honolulu police are also investigating.

Kalihi Crime Reduction Unit police officers said the vendor had purchased hundreds of city permits and was selling them at a profit.

The city requires anyone wanting to pop firecrackers on New Year's Eve to buy a $25 permit for every 5,000 firecrackers they plan to purchase.

"We pulled his permit pending HPD's continuing investigation," HFD spokesman Capt. Emmit Kane said. "Those permits are invalid to resell ... nontransferable."

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Police, Fire, Courts



By Star-Bulletin staff

OAHU

Man, 46, accused of attacking Waialua man

Police arrested a 46-year-old man for allegedly attacking a Waialua resident on Christmas Day after threatening to kill the victim's dog.

Police said that last Saturday the suspect became upset that the victim's dog growled at him. The suspect left but later returned carrying a metal pipe in one hand and a machete in the other hand, and threatened to kill the victim's dog, police said.

The victim told the suspect to leave and the suspect allegedly attacked him, first hitting him on the left forearm then again in the back of the head with the metal pipe, police said. The suspect fled and the victim was taken by ambulance to Wahiawa General Hospital for treatment.

Police located the suspect yesterday at Haleiwa Beach Park where he was arrested for investigation of second-degree assault

Inmate doesn't get far in escape attempt

A 22-year-old inmate from the Oahu Community Correctional Center did not get far when he tried to escape during a hospital visit Wednesday.

Police said the suspect was at the St. Francis Medical Center on Liliha Street at 8:35 a.m. when he ran away from the corrections officer who was guarding him. The suspect ran down four flights of stairs and into the residential area near the hospital. He was found by Honolulu police officers a short time later hiding behind a tree.

Home-invasion suspect arrested

Police arrested a suspect in a home invasion shotgun robbery that took place in Aiea several months ago.

On Oct. 19, at about 1:30 a.m., the suspect, a 28-year-old male, arrived at the victims' home along with three other men. A 23-year-old male victim knew one of the suspects and invited them inside, police said.

Once inside, one of the suspects pulled out a sawed-off shotgun while the other suspects searched the residence for valuables, police said. The suspect fled after stealing several items.

The victims later positively identified three of the four suspects and Wednesday police arrested one of them for investigation of first degree robbery.

Fireworks pole hits power line, injuring 3

Two teenagers and a 38-year-old man were injured when a metal pole they were raising to hold up fireworks hit a 72,000-volt power line in Ewa Beach, emergency officials said.

A 16-year-old girl and 18-year-old man were taken by helicopter to the Queen's Medical Center in critical condition, according to an Emergency Medical Services supervisor. A 38-year-old man was also transported in serious condition. The incident happened at about 4:30 p.m. on Haehae Place.

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS

Driver dies after crash ejects him from car

An 18-year-old man was killed in a one-car crash on Queen Kaahumanu Highway in Waikoloa, South Kohala on the Big Island, early Wednesday.

Police identified the victim as Kyle Umeda of Waimea. Around 12:30 a.m., Umeda was driving a 2003 Toyota four-door sedan when he accelerated out of the Waikoloa Beach Drive intersection onto Queen Kaahumanu Highway, went out of control and ran off the shoulder of the road. Umeda, who was not wearing a seat belt, was ejected from the car, police said.

Police said speed may have been a factor in the crash, and they are investigating whether alcohol was also involved.

Anyone with information on the crash is asked to call Officer Eric Cerezo at 961-2332.

Teen dies from injuries after Monday car crash

A Big Island teenager who was critically injured in a four-vehicle crash Monday on the Queen Kaahumanu Highway in Kailua-Kona has died, and police have reclassified the case as a negligent homicide.

Sarah Rosenberg, 17, was pronounced dead at 1:03 p.m. yesterday at Kona Community Hospital.

The crash happened at 8:53 a.m. Monday a half-mile north of the highway's 92-mile marker. Police said a 1986 GMC flatbed truck registered to Suisan Co. was traveling south when it crossed the center line, sideswiped a 2004 Peterbilt tractor-trailer, then struck the victim's 1993 Toyota four-door sedan. The driver of the GMC sustained minor injuries. No other injuries were reported. It is unclear whether alcohol or drugs were factors in the crash.

Anyone with information can call Officer Sharlotte Bird at 961-2332 or the police non-emergency number at 935-3311.

Customers evacuated from burning store

Fire damaged the Office Max store in Hilo Wednesday night, officials said. The fire started at about 6:50 p.m. as customers were in the store. No one was hurt.

Firefighters evacuated customers and employees as they fought the fire, which was confined to two aisles. A sprinkler system in the store helped put the fire out, officials said. A damage estimate was not available and while a cause had not been determined, officials had not ruled out arson.