Beating death suspect surrenders

The suspect in the beating death of 47-year-old Gordon Lindberg at Aala Park on Wednesday turned himself over to police yesterday afternoon.

Lindberg, who was homeless, was found unconscious at the park at about 11:30 a.m. Wednesday and was taken in serious condition to Kuakini Medical Center, where he later died. The case was classified a homicide after the city Medical Examiner’s Office determined that Lindberg died of blunt-force trauma to his head.

A homeless man who lives at the park told the Star-Advertiser that he saw Lindberg and another man exchange words before the other man punched Lindberg in the face. He said the assailant, whom he knows as Barney, walked away toward Nimitz Highway.

Homicide Lt. David Kamai said police had identified the suspect and were trying to find him.

The suspect, a 50-year-old Waianae man, turned himself in at the Kapolei Police Station about 1:20 p.m. yesterday and was arrested on suspicion of second-degree murder.

Truck plunge kills Maui woman

A Haiku woman was killed when the pickup truck she was in plunged 75 feet down a cliff off Kahekili Highway early yesterday morning near Waihee Elementary School on Maui.

Maui police said Tiare Franco, 22, was ejected from a white 2005 Dodge pickup truck and pronounced dead at the scene following the 1:08 a.m. crash.

The incident occurred about 1.6 miles north of Oki Place in Waihee, police said. The truck was traveling north on Kahekili when it spun out on a left curve and plunged off a steep embankment, police said.

Another occupant fled the scene. It is unclear who was driving. Speed, drugs and alcohol are being investigated as possible contributors to the crash.

The traffic death was the fourth on Maui this year compared to seven at this time in 2010.

Deputy chief’s son arrested in theft

A Honolulu deputy police chief’s son was arrested Friday night in connection with an alleged theft at Nordstrom Ala Moana.

Citing multiple sources, Hawaii News Now reported the son of Deputy Chief Delbert Tatsuyama allegedly was caught shoplifting about $800 worth of merchandise Wednesday night but was released after revealing who his father is.

The suspect turned himself in at the main police station Friday at 6:05 p.m. and was booked on suspicion of second-degree theft. He was released without charge, pending investigation, at 8:45 p.m.

Police said a theft case was initiated and an investigation was ongoing.

A Nordstrom spokeswoman told the Star-Advertiser the matter was handled "consistent with other cases in our stores. … We will be pursuing charges."

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS

Big Island fighter faces theft charges

A well-known former Ultimate Fighting Championship mixed martial artist has a slew of legal problems.

The Hawaii Tribune-Herald reported Friday that Big Island resident Wesley John Correira Jr., 32, pleaded not guilty to first-degree burglary and second-degree theft. He was arrested last week in a Walmart parking lot.

Correira, also known as “Cabbage,” is accused of burglarizing a Big Island home in 2009, stealing $4,200 in electronics. He’s also charged with stealing an iPhone from a store in April and was indicted earlier this month in an auto theft.

Court records show Correira is on probation for a 2009 domestic abuse conviction.

He is being held in lieu of $19,000 bail.