Motorist drops claim of rape and kidnapping
The victim is not yet charged with filing false report
The 44-year-old alleged victim of kidnapping and rape on a Kalihi Kai street last week has withdrawn her complaint, the Honolulu Police Department announced yesterday.
Police officials provided a brief statement that the case is being evaluated, but would not comment on whether the report was false or why the woman dropped her complaint.
Police released a 45-year-old man who was arrested Friday, less than 24 hours after police put out a plea for the public's help in finding the suspect.
The woman told police her car had broken down in Kalihi Kai at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday. She had identified a 45-year-old man, a convicted felon, as the suspect.
He was arrested at 12:15 p.m. Friday in Kalihi on suspicion of two counts of first-degree sexual assault, five counts of third-degree sexual assault and kidnapping.
Police, however, released that man at 1 a.m. Saturday.
The 44-year-old woman who reported being abducted and raped after her car broke down in Kalihi Kai last week has withdrawn her complaint, police announced yesterday.
A 45-year-old man she identified as the assailant was released Saturday.
The Honolulu Police Department issued a statement saying, "Further action on this case is being evaluated."
Police declined to comment on whether it is a matter of false reporting or why the woman chose not to pursue the case.
Filing a false police report can be charged as a misdemeanor.
HPD spokeswoman Michelle Yu said no further information could be released since the case is ongoing. KITV4 news reported, however, that police said the woman was known to the man.
The case was widely publicized last week after police urged anyone with information concerning the alleged assailant to come forward, issuing a CrimeStoppers bulletin that provided a sketch of the man and a detailed description of the suspect's car.
The woman told police her car had broken down on Homerule Street, where she was kidnapped by a man who took her to Hart Street and raped her. Police said she got help and went to a hospital, where she was treated and then called police.
The suspect was described as a man in his 40s with a heavy accent, about 5 feet 5 inches tall. Less than 24 hours later, a suspect matching the description and the police sketch was found.
Honolulu CrimeStoppers coordinator Kim Buffett said a tipster provided police with the name and whereabouts of a man matching the description of the suspect and his car.
Detectives found the man and the car in Kalihi. The woman identified the suspect as the man who allegedly kidnapped and sexually assaulted her, police said.
Police arrested him at 12:15 p.m. Friday on suspicion of first- and third-degree sexual assault and kidnapping.
Although authorities have 48 hours before they must either charge or release a suspect, police released the man after holding him for less than 13 hours.
