Suspect is sought in bank robbery

Police and CrimeStoppers are seeking a suspect in the robbery of the Pearlridge branch of Bank of Hawaii at about 11:20 a.m. yesterday.

Police said a man entered the bank at 98-211 Pali Momi St., approached a teller and handed over a note. He then fled in an unknown direction.

He is described as a man in his 20s or 30s, between 5 feet 8 and 5 feet 10 inches tall, about 160 pounds, with black hair. He was wearing a black, long-sleeve T-shirt and sunglasses.

Fires leave 5 residents homeless

Two structures were damaged yesterday by fires in Kaimuki and Ewa Beach, leaving five people homeless.

Firefighters were dispatched at 4:04 p.m. to a fire in an older cottage divided into two rental units at 3837 Waialae Ave., said Honolulu fire Capt. Terry Seelig. Responding firefighters saw smoke coming from the front bedroom and sprayed it with water before forcing entry into the home and extinguishing the flames. About 17 firefighters brought the fire under control by 4:16 p.m., Seelig said. No one was home at the time.

Seelig said damage was estimated at $7,000 to the structure and $3,000 to the room’s contents, including a keyboard and conga drums.

The fire did not damage the second unit, but the structure’s electricity had to be cut off, leaving a couple in the back unit in the dark. They declined help from the Red Cross. A man who lives in the fire-damaged unit was not immediately located.

At 4:07 p.m. a fire broke out in the kitchen of a second floor-unit in the Arbors townhome community on Laaulu Street, Seelig said. Firefighters confined the blaze to the kitchen. Two adults and a toddler were not home when the fire started, but a woman who returned during the fire and fainted received treatment from firefighters. The fire caused about $25,000 in damage, Seelig said. The family declined aid from the Red Cross.

The causes of both fires were still undetermined last night.