LEEWARD OAHU

5-year-old's death under examination

A 5-year-old girl's death has prompted police to request additional forensic investigation because of the death's circumstances.

At about 7:30 a.m. Wednesday, the girl's family reported finding her unresponsive in bed at their Makaha home. The girl was rushed to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead.

Police have classified the case as an unattended death, but have not yet determined a cause of death. Police officials would not say whether they suspect foul play in the girl's death.

Autopsy results have been deferred, and a final analysis will not be available for another six to eight weeks, said the city Medical Examiner's Office.

Man accused of sex assault on girl

Authorities charged a 30-year-old Waipahu man yesterday who allegedly stopped a 17-year-old girl outside a store and allegedly kidnapped and sexually assaulted her.

Jeffrey Santiago, 30, was charged with kidnapping, fourth-degree sexual assault and impersonating a law enforcement officer.

Bail was set at $250,000.

Police said Santiago stopped the girl at 7:45 a.m. Oct. 14 as she was exiting a Keeaumoku Street retail store and told her she was a shoplifting suspect.

Santiago then allegedly told her to get into his private vehicle and drove her to a secluded location, where he held her for more than an hour and touched her inappropriately.

WEST OAHU

Man accused of sex assault on girl

Authorities charged a 30-year-old Waipahu man yesterday who allegedly stopped a 17-year-old girl outside a store and allegedly kidnapped and sexually assaulted her.

Jeffrey Santiago, 30, was charged with kidnapping, fourth-degree sexual assault and impersonating a law enforcement officer.

Bail was set at $250,000.

Police said Santiago stopped the girl at 7:45 a.m. Oct. 14 as she was exiting a Keeaumoku Street retail store and told her she was a suspect in a shoplifting case.

Santiago then allegedly told her to get into his private vehicle and drove her to a secluded location, where he held her for more than an hour and touched her inappropriately.

Man found asleep in missing Jeep

Police arrested a 33-year-old man with no local address who was sleeping yesterday inside a stolen 2007 Jeep in Aiea.

Police said the Jeep was stolen at about 6 a.m. Wednesday from a Pearl City home during a burglary.

Police said the officers responded to a suspicious-vehicle call in Aiea at about 12:07 a.m. yesterday and found a man sleeping in the Jeep's driver's seat.

Police discovered the Jeep was stolen and tried to awaken the man. The man put the vehicle in gear and rolled more than 30 feet as an officer reached inside through the passenger's side door and turned the ignition off. The man was arrested on suspicion of unauthorized entry into a propelled vehicle, resisting arrest and two counts of third-degree theft.

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS

Helicopter rescues stranded swimmer

A 43-year-old man spent the night on rocks in rough seas before being rescued by a Big Island fire department helicopter early today.

Fire rescue crews were called at 1:54 a.m. to look for a missing swimmer near the 19 mile-marker of Highway 19 in Laupahoehoe, northwest of Hilo.

The victim, Joseph Chandler, had become separated from his friends while laying nets, according to a Hawaii County Fire Department news release. Chandler had pulled himself out of the water and onto rocks, but was not able to get back to shore because of rough ocean conditions.

Darkness and the rough conditions prevented fire-rescue personnel from reaching Chandler, the release said. Just after dawn Chandler was rescued from the rocks by the chopper.

He was in good condition and did not require medical help.