Neighbors’ captive cleared in arson

A 42-year-old man who was chased down by Kalihi Valley residents who suspected he started a house fire is no longer a suspect in the case, police said.

The man remains at the Honolulu police cellblock on an unrelated $300 warrant.

He was taken into police custody after neighbors chased and captured him as he left the neighborhood when the fire broke out. Neighbors described him as a disgruntled former tenant who had been thrown out of the house, 1561 Kilohana St., for drinking alcohol.

The two-story house, used as a temporary home for recovering alcoholics, was unoccupied when the fire started about 4:15 p.m. Thursday.

Fire officials later determined that someone set the storage room below the first floor on fire and estimated damage at $165,000.

Fire Capt. Terry Seelig said the results of the arson investigation have been sent to the Honolulu Police Department.

Marine freed after stabbing attacker

Prosecutors declined to charge a 20-year-old Marine who stabbed another man during a robbery attempt yesterday morning in Waikiki.

The man was released about 5:45 p.m. yesterday, possibly because prosecutors decided the stabbing was in self-defense, police said.

The stabbing happened when a large group of men confronted the Marine, who was with another man, at about 12:30 a.m. and demanded his property.

The group assaulted the 20-year-old and chased him down when he fled and assaulted him again. The man pulled out a knife while surrounded by the group and stabbed a 19-year-old man who was attacking him before running off and hiding in a hotel lobby, police said.

Police arrested the Marine in front of the Honolulu Zoo on suspicion of first-degree assault. The man who was stabbed was taken to the hospital in critical condition.

Police closed off Kalakaua Avenue between Kapahulu and Monsarrat avenues as they conducted their investigation. The road reopened just before 5:30 a.m.

Possible UH sex assault investigated

Police are investigating a report of a sex assault at the University of Hawaii at Manoa on Thursday night.

Campus Security said the possible sexual assault occurred in a student housing apartment and was reported early Friday morning. No description of a suspect was given.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call police at 911 or Campus Security at 956-6911.

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS

Machete case goes to jury on Kauai

A jury on Kauai is expected to continue deliberations tomorrow in the case of a woman accused of threatening a homeless man with a machete and then hitting him with her truck.

The jury in Carrie Ann Robson’s trial began deliberations shortly before noon Friday after closing arguments and instructions by Circuit Judge Randal Valenciano, the Garden Island newspaper reported.

Robson, 39, faces charges of second-degree attempted murder, second-degree assault and two counts of first-degree terroristic threatening in the encounter Dec. 19 at the Hanalei Pavilion.

Public Defender Christian Enright said his client did not strike homeless man Patrick Craig, 49, that night, and said Robson had pulled out a machete to ward off Craig’s sexual advances.

Craig testified Wednesday that he had consumed about 18 beers, smoked marijuana and drank tea made with hallucinogenic mushrooms by the time Robson showed up at the pavilion to fix a friend’s tire. He said he refused to share beer and weed with Robson because she “never puts out.”

Robber wields gun at 7-Eleven

Police are looking for a man who fled with cash after a robbery Thursday night at a 7-Eleven store in Kahului.

The man entered the store on Alamaha Street at about 7:30 p.m. and lifted his shirt to display the butt of a gun in his waistband, police Lt. Wayne Ibarra told the Maui News.

He said the robber demanded money from a clerk, who put money in a bag and handed it to him.

The robber, who fled on foot, was described as between 20 and 40 years old, 5 feet 8 inches to 5 feet 11 inches tall and weighing 150 to 180 pounds, with a thin build.