Police look for five men in connection with Kalihi fires
Honolulu police arrested and charged one arson suspect for two Dumpster fires and are looking for five others responsible for as many as six fires in Kalihi last month.
Ewald Schleicher, 72, believed to be homeless, allegedly set fire at a Dumpster at Murphy’s Bar and Grill in downtown Honolulu on Aug. 14 and at a Dumpster outside the McKinney Building in Waianae on Sept. 6, police said.
Police arrested Schleicher Monday afternoon in Waianae on two counts of fourth-degree arson.
Police said the arrest was aided by a tip to Crimestoppers.
Meanwhile, police are also asking for the public’s help in finding five men were seen on video surveillance cameras at a Dumpster fire at Kalihi Kai Elementary School on Puuhale Road on Sept. 22 about 1:40 a.m.
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There have been five other Dumpster fires in Kalihi and Mapunapuna, each about the same time of morning, from Sept. 18-24, Crimestoppers Lt. Kim Buffet said.
The other fires were:
>> Sept. 18, 1:43 a.m., Island Demo on Kilihau Street.
>> Sept. 20, 3:11 a.m., Floors of Hawaii on Kaumualii Street.
>> Sept. 21, 3 a.m., Farrington High School, five different fires on campus.
>> Sept. 22, 3:10 a.m., D and D Office, Puuhale Road.
>> Sept. 24, 11:11 a.m., Kalakaua Middle School.
"We’re just lucky that no buildings have caught fire even though some have been singed," Buffet said. "If these were older, wooden buildings, they would’ve went up."
Anyone with information on the suspects is asked to call Crimestoppers at 955-8300. Tips could lead to a reward of up to $1,000.