Spontaneous combustion cited in blaze

Fire investigators said yesterday that spontaneous combustion started a trash fire Thursday at the Hawaiian Waste Systems baling facility in Kalaeloa, causing $1.5 million in damage.

The fire started in a pile of garbage in the warehouse and also damaged expensive equipment, including a shredder and a baler, fire Capt. Terry Seelig said. Damage to the equipment was estimated at $1 million.

The two-alarm fire at 91-236 Oihana St. started at about 1:30 a.m. Thursday. It was brought under control at about 4 a.m. but smoldered for most of the day.

Shark-tour boat goes up in flames

Firefighters and the Coast Guard investigated a fire that destroyed a shark-tour boat early yesterday at Haleiwa Harbor.

The fire began at about 12:40 a.m. and engulfed the 30-foot vessel by the time firefighters arrived a few minutes later, fire Capt. Terry Seelig said.

Flames burned the bridge and cabin of the Radon-brand boat, and the heat damaged a nearby vessel, he said.

Firefighters extinguished the fire at about 1:30 a.m. Damage was estimated at $225,000.

The boat did not sink. Investigators ordered it hauled out of the water to look for a cause, Seelig said.

The Coast Guard said it was investigating because it is a commercial vessel.

A source familiar with the incident said the boat belongs to North Shore Shark Adventures. The company did not immediately return a call to comment.

Suspect arrested in home invasion

A Waianae man was charged Thursday with robbery in connection with an Enchanted Lake home invasion in November.

Lowens Ku, 22, of Pohakunui Avenue was arrested at the Oahu Community Correctional Center at about 10:20 a.m. Wednesday.

At least two men entered the 1488 Keolu Drive home at about 2:30 p.m. Nov. 10 with handguns and demanded valuables, police said. A male resident in his early 30s told the robbers he did not have anything. They hit him several times across the face and body, police said. The robbers made off with electronics and household items, police said.

Paramedics treated the man at the home for cuts and bruises.

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS

Pot, pills, ‘ice’ put Puna pair in cellblock

Authorities charged two Puna men with drug crimes Wednesday after officers found crystal methamphetamine, marijuana plants, pills and firearms Tuesday on their Mountain View property, police said.

Vice officers served a search warrant at two structures on the property and arrested George Pavao III, 48; John Alexander, 58; and a 23-year-old woman who was released later pending investigation.

Pavao was charged Wednesday with seven drug offenses, including methamphetamine trafficking. Two of the drug counts stemmed from Pavao selling marijuana to a police informant on Dec. 1 and 7, Big Island police said.

His bail was set at $367,000.

John Alexander was charged with three drug counts and two firearm offenses. His bail was set at $62,000.

Suspect met victims online, officers allege

A Kapaa man was in police custody yesterday after being charged in connection with sexual assault and online enticement of girls and women on Kauai.

Leonard Alpeche Jr., 27, was arrested Wednesday and charged yesterday with kidnapping, first- and third-degree sexual assault and 10 counts of extortion, Kauai police said. He was being held at the Lihue cellblock, unable to post $465,000 bail.

Police said Alpeche used various aliases to forge online relationships with females who are Kauai residents and range in age from 13 to 27.

Anyone with information about Alpeche or incidents involving online enticement is asked to call Kauai police Lt. Daniel Fort at 241-1680, Lt. Danilo Abadilla at 241-1700, Sgt. Randy Chong Tim at 241-1683, police dispatch at 241-1711 or CrimeStoppers at 241-1887.