Waianae man charged with kidnapping

An 18-year-old man was charged with kidnapping Saturday after he held and beat a 17-year-old girl, who was able to escape after her captor fell asleep, police said.

Joseph Titcomb of Waianae was charged with kidnapping and abuse of a family or household member. His bail was set at $20,000.

According to police, at about 11 p.m. Sept. 26, Titcomb was arguing with the victim and then began assaulting her. When the girl tried to leave, Titcomb stopped her and continued assaulting her, police said.

The girl managed to flee after Titcomb began dozing.

Police located Titcomb at his home Friday evening and arrested him.

String of robberies keeps police busy

Police were investigating a string of business robberies that occurred over a period of about two hours Saturday night between Aiea and Waipahu.

The robberies began at about 6:35 p.m. when a male entered a store in Waimalu, brandished a dangerous instrument and demanded cash.

At about 7 p.m. a male entered a store in Waipahu, wielded a dangerous instrument and demanded money, police said.

Then at 7:51 p.m. a male armed with a dangerous instrument took money and property from a business in Pearl City. In that incident the male was assisted by two other male suspects, police said.

The final robbery occurred in Aiea when a male armed with a dangerous instrument took money and property from a business at about 8:30 p.m., police said.