WEST OAHU

Police catch suspected gunman

Police arrested a 28-year-old Ewa Beach man who allegedly tried to rob two cashiers at gunpoint last month.

The man was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of first-degree robbery; he later was released pending further investigation.

  A masked man entered a Waipahu retail business at about 10:45 a.m. Sept. 30, brandished a handgun and demanded money from two cashiers, police said.

The suspect's companion pulled him out of the business before the cashiers had time to react, police said.

The two men fled on foot without any stolen property.

Fatal blast blamed on ignited vapors

Welding work ignited vapors from a waste oil tank, causing the Oct. 7 explosion that killed a 23-year-old welder and injured three others at Campbell Industrial Park, the Honolulu Fire Department said yesterday.

The worker was welding part of a catwalk that was connected to the top of an oil storage tank, the Fire Department said.

The 15-foot tall tank containing 8,000 to 9,000 gallons of waste oil exploded. It was propelled about 30 feet into a sand pile on an adjacent business's property, authorities said.

The accident occurred at Philip Services Hawaii, but the welding work was performed by an employee of Panco.

The Hawaii Occupational Safety and Health Division investigated the case. However, state officials said the results of any such investigation are not released to the public, in accordance with state law.

The explosion killed Sean M. Norva, who was thrown more than 100 feet by the blast, and seriously injured two men working near the base of the tank, the Fire Department said.

Man, 31, arrested in domestic abuse

Police arrested a 31-year-old man after he allegedly choked a woman he lives with.

Police said that at about 2 a.m. Oct. 10, the suspect and a 38-year-old woman argued in their Ewa Beach home about their telephone bill.

Police said that during the argument the suspect grabbed the woman's throat until she could not breathe. The woman reported the incident to police yesterday. The suspect was arrested on suspicion of abuse of a household member.

Suspect in robbery attempt is caught

Police arrested a 28-year-old Ewa Beach man who allegedly attempted to rob two cashiers at gunpoint last month.

The man was arrested at his home Tuesday morning on suspicion of first-degree robbery.

A masked man entered a Waipahu retail business at about 10:45 a.m. Sept. 30, allegedly brandished a handgun and demanded money from two cashiers, police said.

The suspect's companion pulled him out of the business before the cashiers had time to react, police said.

The two men fled on foot without any stolen property.

Police said yesterday they had released the man on Tuesday afternoon pending further investigation.

HONOLULU

Argument leads to damaged cars

Police arrested a 29-year-old woman who allegedly rammed a car with her own vehicle, subsequently damaging three cars.

Police said that at about 7:45 p.m. Sunday, the woman saw her 28-year-old estranged husband dropping off a woman at a Makiki bar and confronted him.

The two were arguing when the suspect got into her car and rammed her estranged husband's car before fleeing. The impact pushed the husband's car into two other parked vehicles, damaging all three.

The woman was found Wednesday and arrested on suspicion of first-degree criminal property damage and two counts of third-degree criminal property damage.

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS

Laundry facility burns on Big Isle

Fire caused $200,000 in damage to a laundry facility in Kailua-Kona on Wednesday, according to a news release from the Hawaii County Fire Department.

The fire at United Laundry Services at 74-5475 Loloku St. was reported at 5:44 p.m. Firefighters found an electric clothes dryer and its contents on fire.

No one was hurt. The cause of the fire is under investigation.

Robbery suspect sought in Hilo

Big Island police want help finding a female robbery suspect.

Police said the suspect was trying to steal an item from a grocery store on Kinoole Street at about 9:15 p.m. Tuesday. Store security personnel confronted her and during a struggle the suspect punched a male employee in the face before fleeing on foot.

She is described as a teenager wearing a black top, black shorts and red sandals. Anyone with information is asked to call CrimeStoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo or 329-8181.