Man charged in torching of girlfriend
A 52-year-old Kaneohe man was charged Wednesday after allegedly striking his girlfriend repeatedly with a guitar and setting her on fire.
Andrew Brown was arrested for attempted murder but the charge was reduced to abuse of a family or household member and second-degree assault.
Police said Brown was arguing with his 39-year-old girlfriend just after 12:30 p.m. Monday on a barge at Heeia Kea Pier when he hit her about five times on her right foot and shin with a guitar.
Police said he then grabbed a bottle of rubbing alcohol, splashed it on the victim’s arm and ignited the fluid with a lighter.
The woman fled and flagged down a passer-by on Kamehameha highway. She was transported by ambulance in fair condition to Straub Clinic & Hospital with burns that were not life-threatening, police said.
Police located the suspect on the barge, where he was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.
However, the city prosecutor’s office reduced the charge to abuse of a family or household member and second-degree assault. His bail was set at $25,000.
Waianae man allegedly hit victim with bat
A Honolulu police officer witnessed a 46-year-old Waianae man hitting another man with a baseball bat during an argument Tuesday night in Waianae.
The suspect was arrested on suspicion of second-degree assault.
Police said the 41-year-old victim suffered a head injury, but refused medical treatment.
Fire burns 5 acres above Hanauma Bay
A small grass fire at the base of a utility pole above Hanauma Bay reignited Wednesday, blackening 5 acres of brush and grass, said fire Capt. Terry Seelig.
The Federal Aviation Administration communication beacon facility above Hanauma Bay experienced a power problem at the top of the ridge on a utility access road. A HECO troubleshooter was sent out, made the repair and saw a small grass fire, but thought it was out by the time he left, Seelig said.
The fire apparently reignited, he said, and the department was called in at about 2:30 p.m. Wednesday.
About 20 firefighters contained the brush fire, which burned along a utility access road above Hanauma Bay.
The fire was reported contained at 3:53 p.m., and crews worked another couple of hours to mop up hot spots, Seelig said.
Son rips off father via ATM card, police say
Police arrested a 46-year-old Kunia man who allegedly made 43 unauthorized withdrawals from an ATM using his 78-year-old father’s debit card from Oct. 5 to Jan. 19.
Police arrested him Tuesday on 43 counts of fraudulent use of credit card, first-degree theft, ID theft, unauthorized possession of personal confidential information and theft/forgery of a credit card.
