Man charged with allegedly kidnapping woman, 26

Honolulu police arrested and charged a 28-year-old Waikiki man Friday for allegedly kidnapping a 26-year-old woman he met over the Internet and coercing her into prostitution.

Charles A. Cocklin Jr. met the woman through a social Internet site and intimidated her into prostitution, at one point assaulting her and breaking her jaw, police said. The alleged crimes started in May for nearly two months.

During the same period, Cocklin allegedly tried to recruit another 30-year-old woman into prostitution, but she refused. Police said he then attempted to extort money from her.

Cocklin was arrested at Honolulu police headquarters on Beretania Street and is charged with kidnapping, assault in the first and second degree, two counts of promoting prostitution, extortion, and terroristic threatening. His bail is set at $250,000.

Boy, 9, arrested for hitting friend in head with sword

A 9-year-old boy was arrested yesterday for hitting an 11-year-old boy in the head with a metal sword.

According to police, the two boys are friends, but got into a verbal argument at the victim's house in Kaneohe. The younger boy grabbed the sword and struck the victim in the head twice causing minor injuries, police said.

The victim received treatment by EMS on the scene, while the 9-year-old boy was arrested at 9:20 a.m.

Apartment suffers minor fire damage in Chinatown

Fire caused minor damage to a second floor studio apartment in Chinatown yesterday morning.

No one was home at 133 North Hotel St. when the fire broke out just before 9 a.m., said fire Capt. Terry Seelig.

A building resident used fire extinguishers to help control the fire before firefighters arrived, Seelig said. The fire was under control by 9:03 a.m. and extinguished by 9:09 a.m.

Damage was estimated at $2,000 and the cause is undetermined.

The Red Cross was assisting the resident of the apartment with food, shelter and clothing.