Puna man held in Internet ticket-sale fraud

Hawaii County police arrested a 19-year-old Puna man Tuesday who allegedly scammed four mainland victims by fraudulently offering concert tickets on the Internet.

Police said four mainlanders responded to a Craigslist post for tickets to the sold-out Coachella Music Festival being held this weekend in Indio, Calif.

The purported ticket seller told victims to wire the money to him, and that he would send them festival passes and wristbands, but they did not receive any.

Police teamed up with an investigator from the Office of Consumer Protection, who posed as a buyer who wanted three sets of passes and wristbands. The buyer and the seller agreed upon a control number and password to use when the seller claimed the money, police said.

When the Puna man went to a Hilo Western Union office Tuesday and used the number and password to claim $900, police arrested him on suspicion of attempted theft and use of a computer in the commission of a separate crime.

Police are asking for other victims of this alleged fraud to contact Detective Derek Morimoto by phone at 961-2380 or by email at dmorimoto@co.hawaii.hi.us.

Cyclist killed in crash was Hilo man, 20

Hawaii County police have identified a bicyclist killed April 11 as 20-year-old Brody H. Winslow of Hilo.

A collision of a vehicle and his bicycle occurred on Kinoole Street in Hilo.

Police said Winslow, formerly of Wrightsville Beach, N.C., was identified Wednesday through dental records.

Maui blaze scorches acreage in Haiku

A brush fire burned about 3 acres and destroyed a small structure Wednesday on Maui’s North Shore, a Maui Fire Department spokesman said.

Several fire companies and a fire helicopter were sent to the blaze at Hahana Road in Haiku shortly before 3 p.m., the spokesman said. A 200-square-foot structure burned down.

Steep terrain hampered the efforts of firefighters, but they brought 75 percent of the fire under control by 5:15 p.m. No one was hurt, and a cause was not determined.

Crews assist drifting paddleboarders

Firefighters and lifeguards rescued two paddleboarders Wednesday who were drifting about a mile off Niu Valley.

Honolulu fire Capt. Terry Seelig said the paddleboarders made a cellphone call for help at about 2 p.m. after a skeg on one of the paddleboards broke. Firefighters brought one of the paddlers back using a personal watercraft, while lifeguards assisted the other paddler back to shore, Seelig said.