Officer put on paid leave after arrest
A veteran police sergeant arrested early Saturday after a pedestrian accident in lower Makiki was placed on paid leave Tuesday, the police department said Wednesday.
Police said Sgt. Andrew Tsukano, 57, was driving west on South Beretania Street just before Victoria Street when his car struck a man crossing Beretania. The man was taken to a hospital in serious condition about 2 a.m. Saturday.
Tsukano refused to submit to a sobriety test and was arrested on suspicion of felony negligent injury, driving while under the influence of an intoxicant and refusing to submit to a breath, blood or urine test. He was released pending investigation.
Tsukano, a 31-year veteran, was off-duty at the time of the crash. He is a patrol sergeant in District 7, the East Honolulu district.
Japanese visitor dies in dive off tour boat
A man visiting from Japan apparently drowned after diving off a tour boat off Heeia Kea Pier late Tuesday morning, police said.
Paramedics and fire rescue personnel met the boat at the pier about 11:13 a.m., and the victim, 57, was pronounced dead at the scene, police said.
Blaze damages Maunalani Heights home
Fire caused $125,000 in damage to a single-story home Tuesday evening on Maunalani Heights, fire officials said.
No one was injured in the 6:17 p.m. fire at 1627 Paula Drive.
A woman in her 90s was working in her yard when she thought she smelled smoke coming from her house, fire Capt. Terry Seelig said.
Firefighters arrived at 6:01 p.m. and had the fire under control by about 6:17 p.m., he said. It appeared to have started in the attic, he said.
Investigators had not yet determined a cause.
Local man identified as accident victim
The city Medical Examiner’s Office identified the pedestrian killed Feb. 16 on Kalakaua Avenue as Raymond Groeschner, 68, of Honolulu.
Police said a 37-year-old female driver from Texas was possibly speeding when the 2011 Jeep hit the pedestrian, who was in a crosswalk at Kealohilani Avenue about 12:30 p.m.
Groeschner was taken to the Queen’s Medical Center in serious condition and died at 2:53 p.m., police said.
