Second suspect held in missing-man case
Hawaii County police arrested a second Puna man Friday in connection with the disappearance of 44-year-old Dante Peter Gilman of Hawaiian Acres.
Gilman was reported missing Jan. 10.
The 19-year-old Kurtistown man was arrested Friday on suspicion of second-degree murder. He is being held at the Hilo police cellblock while detectives from the Area I Criminal Investigations Section continue the investigation.
A 30-year-old Kurtistown man was arrested Thursday.
Police ask that anyone with information about this case contact Detective John Rodrigues Jr. at 961-2384 or jrodrigues@co.hawaii.hi.us, or Detective Norbert Serrao at 961-2383 or nserrao@co.hawaii.hi.us.
Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call CrimeStoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo or 329-8181 in Kona.
Rewards offered for tips on beer thieves
Police are offering a reward for tips on three men who stole beer on two occasions from the Liliha Foodland Super Market in December.
The three suspects entered the Liliha Foodland store at 8:05 a.m. Dec. 12, removed beer and fled without paying. The males returned at 8:15 and took more alcohol. As they attempted to leave, they were confronted by the cashier. All three fled on foot toward Vineyard Boulevard.
Anyone with information about this case is asked to call police.
Hiker returns after night on Waianae ridge
A man in his 20s, who was reporting missing Thursday night after hiking up a ridge behind his home in Waianae, was found early this morning.
Capt. Terry Seelig, Honolulu Fire Department spokesman, said the hiker was able to come down the flank of the Waianae Mountains behind his home on Kukai Place shortly before 8 a.m. without any assistance. He was not injured and did not require medical treatment.
Fire personnel at 8:15 p.m. began an aerial search of the area, including a bunker and using a spotlight on the helicopter after the man’s family reported him missing.
Fire crews did not find the man after searching for 1-1⁄2 hours.
As fire rescue personnel were preparing to resume the search Friday morning, the hiker was located by fire crews who, using binoculars, saw him climb down the mountain.
Motorcyclist hurt in collision with tree
A 26-year-old man is in serious condition at the Queen’s Medical Center after he lost control of the motorcycle he was driving and crashed into a tree in Pearl City on Thursday.
The incident happened at 5:10 p.m. on Waimano Home Road and Noelani Street.
The motorcyclist was wearing a helmet, according to Emergency Medical Services.
NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
FBI investigates origin of false hijacking report
The FBI was trying to determine Friday who called its Honolulu office with the false claim that a possible hijacker was aboard an Alaska Airlines flight from Kona to Seattle on Thursday.
Military jets scrambled to escort Alaska Airlines Flight 819 into Seattle. The plane landed safely, and FBI agents questioned a passenger but did not arrest him.
A caller told the Honolulu FBI office Thursday afternoon that a man aboard the flight was a possible hijacker, said FBI spokesman Tom Simon in Honolulu. Simon declined to say whether the passenger is a Hawaii resident.
“He is not a terrorist or a hijacker,” Simon said. “He was every bit as baffled as to why someone would say that about him.
Making false statements to the FBI is punishable by five years’ imprisonment, Simon said.
