Sweep captures 240 'career criminals' in isles

Crime rates are expected to decrease because of a national program

A Washington state man wanted for allegedly raping his stepbrother's twin 8-year-old daughters was among more than 240 fugitives caught in Hawaii last week during a statewide sweep.

Herbert Damwijk, 33, was arrested April 18 in Hauula by members of Operation FALCON II (Federal and Local Cops Organized Nationally), a U.S. Department of Justice initiative that conducted a week-long roundup of fugitives in 21 states west of the Mississippi River from April 17 to last Sunday.

Local coordinators said that of the 9,037 fugitives arrested nationwide, 249 were found in Hawaii, including Damwijk, who was listed as one of the worst 15 sex offenders on FALCON's most-wanted list.

"The proof is in the poi," said U.S. Marshal Mark "Dutch" Hanohano. "Two hundred and forty nine on three islands (Oahu, Maui and Hawaii County) in one week ... That's incredible."

According to federal officials, Damwijk was living with his relatives in Mountlake Terrace, Wash., in 2004 when he allegedly raped and molested the two victims, penetrating them digitally. A warrant was issued for his arrest the following year, but by then he had already moved to Oregon, then fled to Hawaii.

During Operation FALCON last week, law enforcement members tracked Damwijk down to his workplace at Regal Cinemas in Windward Mall, then to a boardinghouse in Hauula where they arrested him.

"This guy is wanted for raping two young beautiful girls ... young, innocent 8-year-old girls," Hanohano said. "So this pilau predator is now captured, and he's awaiting extradition to the state of Washington and we're proud of that."

High-priority targets for Operation FALCON members this year were fugitives, like Damwijk, wanted for committing sexual offenses and crimes of violence against women, children and seniors, as well as unregistered convicted sex offenders. In Hawaii, Operation FALCON arrested six violent sexual offenders, including Damwijk and Kelepi Mafi, who was wanted on Maui for first- and third-degree sexual assault involving a 12-year-old girl.

Other priority targets were fugitive gang members and violent offenders wanted for homicide, kidnapping, robbery, burglary, carjacking, weapon offenses and major narcotics distribution. Local arrests include two for negligent homicide, 56 on narcotics charges and 29 for burglary and larceny as well as a "host of other crimes," Hanohano said.

One arrest on Maui resulted in the suspect, identified as 33-year-old Leighton Kanae, allegedly ramming his car into a police officer's parked sport utility vehicle in Kahului.

"We parked about 30 feet away from him. One of the officers yelled, 'He's heading towards us,' and he got back in the SUV and he collided into us," Maui police Lt. Wayne Ibarra said. "He was going about 40 miles per hour. ... It was a pretty good collision.

He tried to reverse to get away. ... We pulled out our guns. ... He stopped."

Hanohano said he thinks the sweep made a dent in everyday crime, at least for now.

"I think what you may see is a reduction in crime because career criminals have been captured," he said.

Nationally, Operation FALCON cleared more than 10,419 felony warrants during the seven-day sweep and arrested 1,556 fugitives wanted for violent and nonviolent sex crimes and for being unregistered sex offenders. Task force members also arrested 163 documented gang members, seized 111 guns, confiscated 91 kilograms of narcotics and seized $120,265 in cash.