Newswatch

By Star-Bulletin Staff

Tuesday, July 1, 1997

Two arrested as crowd
clashes with Big Isle officers

KAILUA-KONA -- Two men are in custody following an attack on police officers at an outdoor drinking party, in what police say is part of an increasing trend of young drinkers confronting police.

Officers Gregory Trinidad and Ryan Sato, responding to a report of a fight outside the grounds of Kealakehe Elementary School shortly after midnight yesterday, found themselves confronted by a hostile crowd of about 50 people who had been drinking, they said.

Despite warnings, the crowd advanced on the officers, who then used pepper spray to force them back.

A member of the crowd later identified as Moses Galeon, 18, allegedly hitil,6p,7p Trinidad, knocking him to the ground and causing cuts and bruises.

Then crowd-member Cheyenne Gaspar, 22, allegedly hit Sato with a heavy flashlight, causing a concussion.

Both officers, acting without backup, recovered and arrested the two attackers. They remain on duty.

Galeon was charged with misdemeanor assault on a police officer and disorderly conduct and held in lieu of $275 bail.

Gaspar was charged with felony assault and disorderly conduct and held in lieu of $1,200 bail.

Police say the attack reflects an apparently increasing willingness of crowds of young drinkers to confront police.

Cayetano to pick site
of prison by year end

Gov. Ben Cayetano said he will make a recommendation by year's end on where a new prison should be built to help alleviate prison overcrowding.

His first choice would be the Big Island, followed by the Campbell Industrial Park feed lot on Oahu, Cayetano said yesterday. He said he favors the Big Island because it has more space and because a correctional facility would help boost the island's economy.

Cayetano said he is exploring having a private firm experienced in working with unionized correctional officers build the new facility and run it.

Another idea is to have the private firm build the prison and lease it back to the state, he added.

The year-end deadline gives the administration time to win cooperation and support for his recommendation, Cayetano said.

Fort Shafter water
has barium, chromium

A well that started providing water to Fort Shafter housing and facilities yesterday has small traces of barium and chromium, the Army said.

The inorganic chemicals were found during a pre-operation sampling analysis conducted by the state Health Department.

The Army said the concentration of both substances was well below federal limits and that neither poses a significant health threat, even with a lifetime of exposure.

The situation will be monitored, it said.

New airports division
administrator named

Jerry Matsuda has been chosen as administrator of the state Transportation Department's Airports Division, the department announced yesterday.

Matsuda has been acting administrator since April 1996, following the retirement of former head Owen Miyamoto.

He assumes the new post July 1.

Matsuda started his engineering career in 1968 with the department's Highway Division.

He was the H-2 freeway's design and construction engineer, and worked on Fort Weaver Road, Moanalua Road and Kalanianaole Highway projects.

He was a state Defense Department contracting and engineering officer from 1980, and commander of the 154th Civil Engineering Squadron at Hickam Air Force Base from 1994. In 1995, he was named a deputy director of the Transportation department.

Matsuda graduated from the University of Hawaii and is a lieutenant colonel in the Hawaii Air National Guard.

Box jellyfish stings
reported for second day

Box jellyfish stings were reported by 130 people along Waikiki beach yesterday in the second day of the monthly tide of the ocean pest.

Lt. Mark Cunningham of the city water safety division said lifeguards called an ambulance for a couple of the sting victims.

There were no reports of stings at Ala Moana Beach and the Leeward Coast, he said. On Sunday, lifeguards treated 340 sting victims, including 302 in Waikiki.

Lifeguards posted warning signs Sunday for the influx of jellyfish which occurs on south and leeward shores seven to 10 days after a full moon. The pests are expected to be gone by this evening.

See expanded coverage in today's Honolulu Star-Bulletin.
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Police/Fire


By Star-Bulletin staff

Hawaii Kai brush fire
shuts off traffic

A brush fire this morning caused police to close a portion of Kalanianaole Highway in front of the Hawaii Kai Golf Course.

Police said the fire appears to have started when someone tried to torch a car on the makai side of the highway.

The fire started shortly before 5 a.m. and scorched areas near the highway, causing police to turn around cars traveling in both directions.

Wreck injures three
on North Shore

Police said speed and alcohol may have caused a crash that injured three people last night near Helemano on the North Shore.

Police said shortly before midnight two men, ages 19, were traveling toward Wahiawa on Kamehameha Highway when their car crossed the center line and hit the oncoming car of a woman, 34, who was driving toward the North Shore.

All three were flown to Queen's Hospital. One man is listed in guarded condition. The woman and the other 19-year-old man are in fair condition.

Other Police/Fire headlines
in today’s Star-Bulletin:

• Makiki man arrested in threat
• Search on for Molokai hiker
• Purse-snatcher hunted in Hilo

See expanded coverage in today's Honolulu Star-Bulletin.
See our [Info] section for subscription information.