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Newswatch
Star-Bulletin staff
and wire service
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More isle F-15s return to skies
Five more F-15 combat jets have returned to duty, leaving only two awaiting further engineering analysis, the Pacific Air Forces reported yesterday.
Twenty F-15s belonging to the Hawaii Air National Guard's 199th Squadron were grounded following the crash of an F-15 assigned to the Missouri Air National Guard on Nov. 2. That jet experienced structural failure and broke apart in flight.
Thirteen of the 20 F-15s were returned to flight status on Feb. 1.
A week later a Guard F-15 pilot ejected safely 60 miles south of Oahu after he could not control his jet and it started to lose altitude.
Toxic releases drop for third year
For the third straight year, Hawaii businesses and government agencies have reduced the release of toxic chemicals, according to the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency.
There was a 2.8 percent reduction of toxic releases in 2006 compared with 2005. About 3 million pounds of toxic chemical releases were reported at 38 facilities across the state, which is 87,000 pounds less than 2005's releases, according to the agency's Toxics Release Inventory.
Total releases reported decreased by 24 percent since 2001.
Water releases in 2006 decreased by 164,000 pounds, or 31 percent. The inventory attributed that to reduced releases reported at Pearl Harbor. However, land releases rose by 95 percent, or 85,000 pounds, attributed to large increases at Schofield Barracks in Wahiawa.
The top facilities for releases in Hawaii are Hawaiian Electric's Kahe station; Pearl Harbor; Hawaiian Electric's Waiau station; Chevron's refinery in Kapolei; Hawaii Electric Light's Hill station; Maui Electric's Kahului system; AES Hawaii Inc.; Hawaii Electric Light's Puna station; Tesoro's refinery; and Schofield Barracks.
Seized items go on auction block
Trucks, laptops, electronics, tools and jewelry are some of the forfeited items to be offered tomorrow by the state attorney general's office at auction.
The state auction will be in the Pikake Room at the Neal S. Blaisdell Center starting at noon, with inspection of the property beginning an hour earlier. Visit www.rosenauctions.com for a list of auction items, which were seized in connection with criminal activities.
The seized property for sale includes a 2000 Ford F-150, a 1999 Dodge Durango and a Yamaha 450cc Quad.
Under state law, assets from the commission of certain criminal offenses can be seized as a way to deter criminal conduct. Proceeds from the auction will go toward fighting crime.
Employees, and their family members, of county police departments, county prosecuting attorney's offices and the Department of the Attorney General cannot purchase forfeited property. Call Rosen Auctions at 537-2728 for more information.
Event raises disease awareness
The public is invited to "Stride & Ride" in a charity event for the Muscular Dystrophy Association starting with registration at 7 a.m. tomorrow at Pearlridge Center Uptown.
Participants can "stride" in walking shoes or "ride" in a wheelchair around the mall with teams to help raise awareness about neuromuscular diseases. There will be entertainment and prizes.
For more information, call 593-4454.
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Police, Fire, Courts
Star-Bulletin staff
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WINDWARD OAHU
U.S. Marine killed in car crash is ID'd
A 22-year-old Marine who died in a car crash on the H-3 freeway Tuesday night near the Mokapu Boulevard overpass was identified yesterday as Pfc. Kristopher L. Cox.
Cox died from multiple internal injuries due to a motor vehicle collision, the Honolulu Medical Examiner's office said yesterday.
At about 9:55 p.m., Cox's 1986 two-door Chevrolet sedan veered off the highway, hit a tree and burst into flames. He was trapped in the car and died at the scene, police said.
Cox, of Christiana, Tenn., joined the Marine Corps in July 2004 and reported to Hawaii in February 2005, according to 1st Lt. Binford Strickland, Marine Corps Base Hawaii spokesman.
He was a food service specialist assigned to 3rd Marine Regiment, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Kaneohe Bay. He served in Iraq and Afghanistan with the 2nd Battalion, 3rd Marine Regiment. He had been awarded several medals.
It was the seventh traffic fatality on Oahu this year, compared with 13 at same time last year.
LEEWARD OAHU
Man suspected in Waianae gunfire
A 39-year-old man has been arrested on suspicion of second-degree attempted murder in connection with a shooting outside a Waianae residence last month.
At about 5:30 a.m. Jan. 26, Lionel Afoa allegedly fired a handgun at a 40-year-old man, beat the man and his 37-year-old friend and robbed both men. Police said another man joined in the robbery, and both fled the scene. It is unknown whether police have captured the second robber.
Authorities arrested Afoa at the Halawa Correctional Facility yesterday at 9:40 a.m. on suspicion of first-degree robbery, second-degree attempted murder and firearm violations. He was charged yesterday afternoon and bail was set at $100,000.
HONOLULU
Woman allegedly kicks police officer
Police arrested a woman who allegedly kicked a police officer in the groin Wednesday night.
Police said that at about 9 p.m. officers noticed a pickup truck speeding in Kalihi. Police said officers followed the truck to the airport and saw it collide with another vehicle.
Police said the driver of the pickup, an 18-year-old woman, ran from the scene. Officers found her hiding in the back of a pickup truck, police said. As she got out of the truck, she kicked an officer in the groin, police said. Police then learned that the vehicle she was driving had been stolen. She was arrested on suspicion of auto theft and assault on a law enforcement officer.
