Would-be burglar falls from ceiling

Police arrested a 23-year-old woman Thursday after she fell through ceiling tiles in an unsuccessful burglary attempt.

Police said the woman, who had no local address, entered a business at the Waipahu Medical Center strip mall at 307 Farrington Highway at about 5:30 p.m.

She allegedly entered a ceiling crawl space by removing ceiling tiles and went into an office looking for valuables.

Police said a customer noticed the woman and called 911. Officers found the woman in the crawl space and arrested her after she fell through the ceiling tiles at about 5:50 p.m.

Army lets Kolekole fire burn through

Army firefighters are allowing a wildfire to burn on several ranges near Kolekole Pass.

The fire began about 6:15 p.m. Wednesday at Range KR8 and is not threatening any facilities, the U.S. Army Garrison said. Army firefighters have not determined a cause.

The 300- to 400-acre fire is burning in an area that was scheduled for a prescribed burn in November, so officials are letting the fire burn out on its own.

Hilo man nabbed in bank robbery

After a brief manhunt, Big Island police arrested and charged a 38-year-old Hilo man with the attempted robbery of a downtown Hilo bank.

Daniel Alcaraz of Hilo was arrested Wednesday afternoon after agreeing to meet with detectives. He was charged with second-degree robbery and is being held in lieu of $5,000 bail.

Police said a man entered the bank on Kalakaua Street bank about 11 a.m. Oct. 7 and passed a demand note to a teller. He left without receiving any money.

Man sought on meth charge caught

A tip helped Big Island police arrest a Puna man on drug offenses and seize more than 17 grams of crystal methamphetamine or "ice."

Prosecutors charged Keith Frendo, 49, with methamphetamine trafficking and several drug charges. His bail was set Wednesday at $64,250.

Armed with a warrant, vice section officers entered Frendo’s Orchidland home early Wednesday and recovered 17.7 grams of ice, a small amount of marijuana and other drug paraphernalia.

Officers also seized a 2005 Ford pickup and $3,721 in cash.

Police ask the public to call the department’s 24-hour ice hot lines with anonymous information about ice and other illegal drugs. Hot line numbers are 329-0423 in Kona and 934-8423 in Hilo.

2 teens allegedly try to rob boy

Police arrested a 14-year-old boy and were looking for another teenager in connection with the alleged attempted robbery of a classmate in Aiea on Wednesday after school.

Police said two 14-year-old boys confronted a 15-year-old boy off campus and demanded his wallet, iPod and phone. One boy tackled the victim and the other kicked him in the face, police said. The 15-year-old escaped and ran back to school, where staff called police.

Officers found and arrested one suspect and were looking for the second teenager last night.

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS

Kauai rapist sentenced to 20 years

LIHUE » A Kauai man convicted of raping a 14-year-old girl has been sentenced to a maximum 20 years in prison.

The Garden Island newspaper reported that Circuit Judge Kathleen Watanabe imposed the sentence Wednesday on Nelson K. Olshefski.

The Hawaii Paroling Authority will determine how long Olshefski must serve behind bars before becoming eligible for parole.

Deputy County Prosecutor Lisa Arin said Olshefski was a friend of the girl’s family and had known her since she was 7.

Arin said Olshefski sexually assaulted the girl as his girlfriend and children slept nearby.

During sentencing, Olshefski asked for forgiveness and said he has accepted responsibility for his actions.