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Second man charged in connection with botched robbery at Ward arcade

A second man has been charged in an armed robbery broken up by an alert security guard at a Ward Avenue arcade.

Faaiu Raymen Faaiu, Jr., 26, pleaded not guilty to first-degree robbery and kidnapping before Circuit Judge Richard Perkins on Thursday. His trial has been scheduled for August.

He remained at Oahu Community Correctional Center Tuesday unable to post $250,000 bail.

According to a court affidavit, Faaiu robbed the Winner’z Zone at 320 Ward Ave. with Toutaimana Downer, 19, on April 24. 

When Faaiu and Downer walked up to the arcade at 1:56 a.m., security guard Paulay Asiata told Faaiu the arcade was closing. Faaiu then pulled out a silver handgun and told a group of people standing outside to go into the arcade, court documents say.

Faaiu put the gun to the back of Asiata’s head and said: "I’ll blow your brains out! Show me the safe!"

Soon after, when Downer shouted, "the cops!," Asiata wrestled the gun away from Faaiu, who ran out the door. Asiata then turned to Downer and detained him until police arrived.

Authorities identified Faaiu through security camera footage and in a photographic lineup. He was arrested May 22 at Oahu Community Correctional Center, where he was being held for an unrelated probation violation.

Downer was charged with first-degree robbery and kidnapping April 30.

He remains at Oahu Community Correctional Center unable to post $100,000 bail. His jury trial is scheduled for July.

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