Credit union teller indicted for $63,500 theft from customer accounts

A federal grand jury returned an indictment today charging a Windward Community Federal Credit Union teller with stealing $63,500 from customer accounts.

The indictment charges Billie Jean Collins with withdrawing amounts of $200 to $9,000 on 18 occasions from October 2008 to January 2009.

On some occasions Collins forged account holders' signatures on cash withdrawal slips, the indictment says. And on one occasion she reversed a check and cash deposit by an account holder then redeposited only the check and kept the cash, according to the indictment.

A federal grand jury returned an indictment today charging a Windward Community Federal Credit Union teller with stealing $63,500 from customer accounts.

The indictment charges Billie Jean Collins with withdrawing amounts of $200 to $9,000 on 18 occasions from October 2008 to January 2009.

On some occasions Collins forged account holders' signatures on cash withdrawal slips, the indictment says. And on one occasion she reversed a check and cash deposit by an account holder then redeposited only the check and kept the cash, according to the indictment.

Kauai body is believed to be missing Utah man

Kauai police found a body believed to be that of a Utah man who disappeared last week during a hike in Wailua Valley.

The body was found above Uluwehi Falls about noon yesterday, a Kauai police report said.

Two search dogs from the Honolulu Police Department's Special Services Division and visitors in the area helped in the search, which began about 8 a.m.

Police tentatively identified the body as that of 26-year-old Ryan Soper based on the clothing description from family members.

Man thrown from car killed in Lahaina crash

A 30-year-old Kihei man died Monday in a single-vehicle crash in Lahaina.

Christian V. Jensen was ejected from a 1998 Jeep multipurpose vehicle heading toward Maalaea on Honoapiilani Highway sometime between 1 and 7 a.m., Maui police said yesterday.

The Jeep drove off the roadway, hit a rocky embankment and a guardrail before dropping off a cliff to the rocky shoreline. Jensen was ejected before the vehicle went over the cliff.

The crash was not found until about 10 a.m. Tuesday.

Jensen was the seventh traffic fatality on Maui compared with seven at this time last year.

Tip leads to the arrest of crime-spree suspect

A CrimeStoppers tip led to the arrest of a 28-year-old South Kona man wanted for a violent crime spree that allegedly started last year and ended Tuesday on the Big Island.

The man was being held on suspicion of kidnapping, three counts of first-degree terroristic threatening, second-degree assault, three counts of first-degree assault, one count of first-degree robbery and three counts of unauthorized control of a vehicle.

Police say the man is a suspect in the following six crimes:

» Sept. 26: A man punched and kicked a 25-year-old Hilo man, then stole his car from Pepeekeo.
» Feb. 16: A man with a machete severed the finger of a Kailua man, 19, and cut the bottom of his right foot with a machete.
» Feb. 16: A man stole a car from a 20-year-old Captain Cook woman's home.
» Feb. 18: A car was stolen from a Honaunau man's home.
» Feb. 27: A man forced a 28-year-old Captain Cook woman into a car at gunpoint, took her to a home in Eden Rock and held her against her will. He punched her in the face and on the body.
» Saturday: A man stole a Honaunau woman's sport utility vehicle from a scenic lookout in South Kona.

An anonymous tip led police to the SUV in the Captain Cook area where officers arrested the suspect and a second man about 1:15 p.m. Tuesday.

The second suspect, a 24 year-old South Kona man, was arrested on suspicion of car theft and a drug charge. He was held on $50,000 bail for a criminal contempt warrant.