Honolulu Star-Bulletin News - Briefs /2005/08/18/

Legal counsel granted in police shooting suit

The Honolulu Police Commission authorized legal representation yesterday for Chief Boisse Correa, retired Chief Lee Donohue and five officers also named in a civil lawsuit filed by the family of slain officer Glen Gaspar.

The lawsuit, filed in March, also named Shane Mark, who was convicted of Gaspar's murder, and the Honolulu Police Department. A state judge released HPD from the lawsuit last month.

Gaspar died March 4, 2003, of gunshot wounds that he suffered in a struggle with Mark as Gaspar and the other officers tried to arrest him.

Gaspar was not wearing a protective vest.

Online registry offers data on charities

Isle residents who are besieged with requests for contributions to charities can now check by computer on whether a fund-raising organization is cleared to do business in Hawaii.

A professional organization that solicits donations for charitable causes must register and post a $25,000 bond. The registry of local and mainland solicitors and fund-raising counsels can be viewed at the state Attorney General's Web site, www.hawaii.gov/ag/charity_resources.htm.

"Hawaii charities and their donors can now make better-informed decisions when fund raising or giving," said Attorney General Mark Bennett.

Solicitation by an unregistered organization is an unfair and deceptive trade practice under state consumer protection law. Information about the law can be found at www.hawaii.gov/ag/index.html.

Taking Notice

» The Women's Fund of Hawaii has given $5,000 to Women in Need on Oahu's Leeward coast, the Lana'i Women's Center and the Girls' Leadership Academy on the Big Island.

» The Hawaii People's Fund has awarded $18,000 to 14 community organizations, including the American Friends Service Committee -- Hawaii, Aloha Peace House, DMZ Hawaii/Aloha 'Aina, Freedom of Information Awareness Month, GMO-Free Maui, Hawaii Freedom Project, Japanese American Citizens League Honolulu Chapter, Ka Lei Papahi O Kakuhihewa, Mission Team on Peace & Justice, Not in Our Name -- Hawaii, the Safe Zone Foundation, United Self-Help, United Strategies for Justice and U.S. Japan Committee on Racial Justice.

» Kapalua Maui Charities Inc., host organization for the annual Mercedes Championships, has pledged to share proceeds generated at the PGA tour event at Kapalua to Boy Scouts of America Maui Council, Friends of the Children's Justice Center, Hale Makua, J. Walter Cameron Center, Ka Lima O Maui, Lahainaluna High School Foundation, Maui Memorial Medical Center Foundation, Maui Preparatory Academy and the Art School of Kapalua.

The charity gave $353,536 to nonprofit agencies in 2005.

» The University of Hawaii Women's Campus Club has awarded $13,575 to seven UH departments and five UH community colleges. Two of the largest grants, $2,500 each, went to Honolulu Community College.

» Bank of Hawaii has given its $5,000 Mike Lyons Maui Community Award to Hale Kau Kau, a nonprofit organization that feeds the needy and hungry. Hale Kau Kau has operated out of St. Theresa's Church in Kihei, Maui, since 1991.

"Taking Notice" runs on Tuesdays and Saturdays.

Police, Fire, Courts

By Star-Bulletin staff

HONOLULU

CINDY ELLEN RUSSELL / CRUSSELL@STARBULLETIN.COM
Police officers scoured North King and Owen streets in Kalihi for bullet shells last night after a male was shot in the white car around 8 p.m.

Kalihi man is shot while sitting in car

A 20-year-old Kalihi man was shot in the head last night while he sat in a car with two other men, police said.

Police have opened an attempted-murder case in the shooting.

Police said the shooting took place in a white car near the corner of North King and Owen streets. The man was apparently shot in the head.

According to police, the two men carried the victim on foot over a Lunalilo Freeway overpass to his home at 2335 Ahu Lane, Unit C, then called police. Police found traces of blood on the overpass.

Police got the call at 8:08 p.m. yesterday.

Police were looking for a suspect last night near Waiakamilo Shopping Center, but no information was available on the suspect at press time.

The man was taken to the Queen's Medical Center in critical condition, an Emergency Medical Services supervisor said. The man received a gunshot wound, but it was unclear whether he was shot in the face or the head and whether the firearm used was a shotgun or a small caliber gun, the EMS supervisor said.

Neighbors said they heard yelling and screaming at the apartment.

Pedestrian dies after being hit by a van

A 78-year-old Honolulu woman died yesterday morning after being struck by a van in Kakaako.

The Medical Examiner's Office identified the woman as Tsuruko Shimabukuro, who was crossing the street in a marked crosswalk on Cooke Street.

Police said Shimabukuro was walking west on Cooke at about 6:56 a.m. yesterday when she was struck by a white van heading east on Halekauwila Street turning left onto Cooke Street.

Shimabukuro was taken in critical condition to the Queen's Medical Center, where she later died. Police said the driver of the van was a 51-year-old man.

Love triangle conflict ends in alleged assault

A 50-year-old woman was arrested for assaulting her husband earlier this week during a love triangle confrontation in Salt Lake.

Police said Chanh T. Paulino and her 44-year-old estranged husband struggled in the Ala Ilima Street apartment unit of the husband's girlfriend at 10:30 p.m. Monday. Paulino allegedly slapped her husband's face while he punched her in the ribs. She also allegedly assaulted her husband's girlfriend.

She is being held in lieu of $5,000 bail.

WAIKIKI

Stakeout nets suspect in vehicle break-ins

A police stakeout at a Waikiki condominium nabbed a 43-year-old woman who is suspected of breaking into vehicles in the parking lot.

Police said they set up the surveillance due to an increased number of people complaining about the break-ins. At about 9 p.m. Tuesday, police spotted the suspect driving around in the parking lot. Police ran a check of the suspect vehicle and found that it had been reported stolen, and also recognized the suspect as being wanted on an outstanding warrant. Police arrested her for the warrant, auto theft and driving without a license.

LEEWARD Oahu

Teen suspect found in February attack

Police said a 14-year-old boy was allegedly assaulted after being robbed of his wallet and made to wipe his own blood off one of the suspects earlier this year.

The victim had been waiting at a bus stop in Waipahu on Feb. 25 when he was confronted by a group of five men. One of the suspects asked the victim for money, then assaulted him when the victim refused to let him grab his waist-pouch.

After the assault, blood from the victim's nose dripped onto the arm of one of the other suspects, and that suspect ordered the victim to wipe it off. Police said the victim was assaulted again after he smeared the blood.

Police arrested a 17-year-old suspect for second-degree robbery in this case yesterday but have since released him pending an investigation.

Man sought in alleged sex assault of girl, 3

Police are looking for a 47-year-old man after he allegedly sexually assaulted a 3-year-old girl Tuesday in Waianae.

The victim's mother said her daughter told her that she was assaulted by the suspect, who lives in the same house, between 8 p.m. Monday and 1:30 a.m. Tuesday. The mother took the daughter to the Kapiolani Medical Center for a sex assault examination. Police have not located the suspect at this time.