Newswatch Star-Bulletin staff and wire service

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FBI arrests man over isle flight

Federal authorities arrested a California man last week who allegedly arranged to have a man who was not a law enforcement officer take a prisoner on a flight from Los Angeles to Honolulu.

Eric Scott Kindley, owner of the private prisoner transportation company Court Services Inc., turned himself in on Thursday, an FBI news release said.

A week earlier, a federal grand jury in Los Angeles returned an indictment accusing Kindley, 39, of instructing his employee, Gary Douglas Garratt, to carry a gun to help transport a prisoner from Phoenix to Honolulu.

According to the indictment, when the airline told Garratt, 54, that two armed law enforcement officers are needed to transport a prisoner on a flight longer than four hours, Kindley instructed Garratt to drive to Los Angeles International Airport and fly from there.

On March 15, 2007, Garratt and another Court Services employee tried to board a flight at LAX with the prisoner and were again told two armed law enforcement officers were required to transport a prisoner.

That night, Kindley allegedly gave Garratt a 9 mm handgun that was not registered to either him or Garratt. The following morning, Garratt, who was not a sworn law enforcement officer and did not have training for law enforcement officers who fly armed, tried to board the aircraft with the handgun. He was arrested in November.

Kindley and Garratt, both of California, are expected to appear Tuesday in District Court in Los Angeles for arraignment.

If convicted of the charges -- conspiracy and attempting to bring a handgun onto a commercial plane -- both men could face up to 20 years in prison.

Seniors improve on AP tests

More high school seniors in Hawaii took Advanced Placement tests and got passing grades last year than they did in 2006, according to grades released yesterday.

Out of 1,702 students tested last year, 867, or 51 percent, posted a 3 or better, the minimum score needed to earn college credits. That's up from the 789 students out of 1,591, or 49.5 percent, who achieved the mark in 2006, figures show.

Research has shown that students who score a 3 or higher in the AP exam are more likely to succeed and graduate from college, according to the College Board, which administers the test.

In the past five years, the number of high school students in Hawaii who participated in the exam rose from about 12 percent to 16 percent.

In 2002, more than half of the 1,239 students who took the test, 55 percent, got a grade of 3 or higher.

Police to stage DUI checkpoints

Impaired driver checkpoints will be conducted during this Presidents Day weekend through Tuesday, the Honolulu Police Department announced.

Checkpoints will be set up at unannounced times. As of Feb. 14, five people have died this year on Oahu as a result of five traffic accidents, compared with 10 deaths resulting from nine accidents this time last year. Speeding was a factor in two of this year's crashes, and one crash was related to alcohol.

Filipino Chamber offers awards

The Filipino Chamber of Commerce of Hawaii Foundation is accepting applications for $19,000 in scholarships for graduating high school seniors this year.

The application deadline is March 31, and the scholarships will be awarded April 26. Applications are available through high school counselors or at www.filipinochamber.org/foundation.

One scholarship of $4,000 and five $3,000 awards are being offered.

The foundation has raised funds for the scholarships for 14 years through its annual golf tournament, to be held March 28 at Kapolei Golf Course.

Police, Fire, Courts Star-Bulletin staff

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NEIGHBOR ISLANDS

DUI alleged in fatal Big Island crash

Police say speed and alcohol were involved in a single car crash that killed a 35-year-old man in Puna on the Big Island early yesterday morning.

Police arrested the 41-year-old driver of a Honda sedan for allegedly driving under the influence and providing liquor to someone under 21 years of age.

Police identified the victim as Daniel T. Ekau of Pahoa.

At 1:11 a.m., the driver of the Honda two-door sedan lost control in the northbound direction near the 16-mile marker on Route 130, crossed the centerline and struck an embankment.

The driver and two passengers were ejected from the car. Ekau, who was the front-seat passenger, was the only one wearing a seat belt. Ekau was pronounced dead at 5:50 a.m. at the Hilo Medical Center.

The driver and a 19-year-old rear-seat passenger were taken to Hilo Medical Center and later flown to the Queen's Medical Center in critical condition.

Man surrenders in shooting case

Big Island police have charged a 38-year-old Orchidland man with assault and weapons offenses in connection with a shooting Thursday night in Puna.

Steven Kaio is being held in lieu of $100,000 bail until his arraignment on Tuesday.

Kaio turned himself in 5:45 p.m. Friday after police said he was wanted for questioning in the case.

Police said a 51-year-old man was shot once in the head at 7:30 p.m. Thursday in his 35th Avenue home in the Orchidland subdivision. Fire rescue personnel took the man to Hilo Medical Center in critical condition, but he has since been upgraded to guarded.

LEEWARD OAHU

Woman arrested in domestic quarrel

A 37-year-old woman was arrested after she allegedly threatened two other women with broken glass.

At 8:30 Friday morning, the suspect and a 20-year-old woman who live together in a Waipahu home began to argue, and the suspect allegedly scratched and struck her roommate, police said. The roommate then threw a picture frame at a wall, which shattered.

The suspect picked up a shard of broken glass, and allegedly threatened her roommate and another 22-year-old woman with them.

WINDWARD OAHU

Baseball bat used in alleged attack

Police arrested a 23-year-old Kaneohe man who allegedly hit his father in the head with a baseball bat.

Police said the incident happened at about 10:30 a.m. Wednesday. Police said the victim, 59, initially didn't want to press charges and instead took his son to the hospital. The son has a history of mental illness, police said.

Later, the father brought the son to the police station where he was arrested for investigation of second-degree assault.

He was later released pending investigation.