Suspect in apartment fire arrested

Police yesterday arrested a man they believe set fire to two elevators in a Waikiki vacation rental and apartment complex where he is staying.

The man, 39, was released pending investigation.

Police said the fire at Seaside Towers, a 15-story, 126-unit complex at 435 Seaside Ave., at about 1 a.m. Tuesday caused about $4,700 in damage.

Witnesses saw the suspect leaving the area after the fire, police said.

Man charged in assault of paramedic

A man was arrested for allegedly punching a paramedic who came to his aid Wednesday morning.

Police said two female paramedics were called to assist a man at an apartment complex at 1525 Rycroft St.

When they approached the man in the hallway, he swore at them and punched one of them, 28, in the face. She refused treatment.

The man was taken to the Queen’s Medical Center, where he was found to be intoxicated but with no other medical condition, police said.

Herlip Nowell, 64, was charged with second-degree assault. Bail was set at $11,000.

Pair caught after alleged robbery

A man and woman were arrested after they allegedly robbed another man and kidnapped him in Waimanalo early Tuesday.

Police said the victim, 53, picked up the woman, 22, and allowed her to drive his car. When they stopped at a stop sign, the male suspect, 25, brandished a weapon and demanded money, police said.

Both suspects were arrested Thursday night in Waimanalo.

Aeja Parker, 22, of Waimanalo was charged with first-degree robbery, kidnapping and contempt. She was being held in lieu of $50,000 bail.

Jared Guy Medeiros, 26, of no local address, was charged with first-degree robbery, kidnapping, first-degree terroristic threatening, two firearms counts and a probation violation. He was being held in lieu of $20,000 bail.

Quick action averts fire at UH class

Firefighters were called to put out smoke coming from an overheating freeze-dryer in a laboratory classroom on the second floor of the Agricultural Science Building at the University of Hawaii-Manoa campus yesterday morning.

Honolulu fire Capt. Earle Kealoha said the appliance could have caught fire if campus security had not notified the Fire Department immediately.

The only damage was to the device, Kealoha said.

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS

Kona man dies in crash; driver injured

A 45-year-old Kona man died Thursday from injuries he sustained when a sport utility vehicle crashed into a tree off Mamalahoa Highway, south of mile marker 103 in South Kona.

The victim was identified as Clyde A. Duncan.

Responding to a 1:39 a.m. call, Kona patrol officers determined that a 26-year-old woman from Honaunau was driving a 1993 Ford Explorer south on Mamalahoa Highway when she lost control. The SUV ran off the right side of the road and hit a tree.

Duncan, who was a passenger, and the driver were taken to Kona Community Hospital by fire rescue personnel.

Duncan was flown to the Queen’s Medical Center in Honolulu in critical condition. He died at 8:50 p.m.

The driver was arrested on suspicion of operating a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant, negligent injury, no driver’s license and no no-fault insurance.

She was released pending further investigation because she was confined to Kona Community Hospital for her injuries.

Alcohol was a factor in the crash, police said. Police said the victim was not wearing a seat belt.

Traffic Enforcement Unit officers reclassified the case from negligent injury to negligent homicide. They ordered an autopsy.

Anyone with information regarding this crash is asked to call Officer Joshua Lewis at 326-4646, ext. 229.

Duncan’s death is the sixth traffic fatality in Hawaii County this year compared with eight at the same time last year.