Kalihi man arrested in beating death

Police arrested a 19-year-old Kalihi man yesterday who allegedly killed a man in Kalihi in January.

Police said the man allegedly beat a 54-year-old man, who was initially taken to the Queen's Medical Center in critical condition with severe head injuries, and later died.

The victim was found at 2 a.m. Jan. 13 with severe head injuries near the North School Street and Lanakila Avenue intersection.

Police said a knife was recovered at the scene but did not appear to have been used in the crime.

Police later identified the suspect, who lived near the intersection where the man's body was found. They located and arrested the man at 1:30 p.m. yesterday on suspicion of second-degree murder.

Medicines and alcohol caused woman to OD

Kauai police said a 27-year-old Puhi woman died from an overdose of prescribed medication and alcohol last month.

However, the investigation into the Aug. 16 death of Lauren Kagawa is ongoing to determine whether the overdose was accidental, police said.

The results of the autopsy and toxicology report showed that Kagawa had multiple prescribed medications in her system at the time of her death. The medications coupled with alcohol caused her death, police said.

Kagawa's body was found outside her Puhi apartment in the Hookena subdivision, west of Lihue.

Two teens kidnapped by male driving a van

Detectives are investigating two separate kidnappings early Wednesday in Central Oahu.

Both kidnappings involved a male described to be in his late teens to early 20s driving a van.

At about 3:30 a.m. near Kamehameha Highway and Waihau Street in Wahiawa, the suspect approached a 15-year-old victim, threatened her with a knife and held her against her will, police said. The suspect freed the victim after being confronted by her boyfriend.

Shortly before 7 a.m., a second 15-year-old victim was walking to her friend's house in Mililani when a male driving a white van forced her into his vehicle and took her to a park in Wahiawa where he sexually assaulted her, police said. The man also took her to a beach park on the North Shore.

Detectives are investigating to determine whether the two cases are related.

Police advise teens as well as others to go out in groups, walk in well-lit areas and call 911 to report any suspicious activity.

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Medical pot user is fined over iffy buy

WAILUKU » A Maui man allowed to use marijuana to relieve back pain has been ordered to pay a $300 fine.

Under a plea agreement with prosecutors, Douglas Kaleikini of Wailuku pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor charge of criminal conspiracy.

The 55-year-old Kaleikini had faced a felony charge after he and six others were arrested last year following a two-year police investigation dubbed “;Operation Weedkiller.”;

He was accused of buying marijuana from a group that allegedly exploited state medical marijuana laws to sell the drug to hundreds of people.

Kaleikini says he thought the sales were legal.

During sentencing Tuesday, Circuit Judge Joseph Cardoza said Kaleikini could continue using marijuana to ease his pain as long as he was authorized by the state.