Man charged with armed robberies in crime spree
A 31-year-old Windward Oahu man, believed responsible for a small crime wave over the last week, is charged with four armed robberies.
Authorities charged James D. Walters III Thursday night with seven counts of first-degree robbery, kidnapping, firearms violations and unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle, a spokesman for the Honolulu Prosecutor said. Walters is being held in lieu of $500,000 bail and is scheduled to make his initial appearance in District Court this morning.
The alleged crime spree began at Kailua Beach Park on April 18 when Walters allegedly entered a car occupied by a woman and her 1-year-old son, who was in a car seat just before 5 p.m.. Williams brandished a gun and ordered the woman to drive, police said. After a short distance, he told her to pull over, then allegedly took her purse and wallet and fled.
Walters allegedly robbed a family of four from Japan walking on the Ala Wai Canal bridge at Ala Moana Boulevard at about 10 p.m. on April 20.
On Saturday, police said Williams used a rifle to rob the L&L Drive Inn on Kamehameha Highway in Kaneohe at about 7 p.m. He was seen driving off in a black pickup truck.
A Canadian tourist caught Walters in Lanikai at Mokulua Drive and Onekea Drive breaking into his rental car Sunday morning, police said. Walters allegedly threatened the man with a gun and fled with backpack.
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On Tuesday, police issued a CrimeStoppers bulletin asking for the public’s help in finding Walters, who was wanted for questioning in connection with the armed robberies in Waikiki and Lanikai. They said he was also a suspect in other robberies and described him as "armed and dangerous."
Police arrested him at a Date Street apartment complex Tuesday night.
Walters, of a Keolu Hills address, does not have a criminal record, police said.
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Star-Advertiser reporter Gordon Y.K. Pang contributed to this story.