Hearing set for defendant in Kailua stabbing
A preliminary hearing has been scheduled for Tuesday afternoon in Honolulu District Court for William Esper, 64, who is charged with second-degree attempted murder in a stabbing on a Kailua street Tuesday afternoon.
Esper, a homeless man, allegedly stabbed a 43-year-old woman with an "edged weapon" at 1:25 p.m. Tuesday on Oneawa Street, according to a criminal complaint. Police arrested Esper 30 minutes later at the crime scene.
Esper has a criminal record, mainly misdemeanor criminal property damage convictions, beginning in 1994. His only felony conviction was in 2000 for second-degree criminal property damage. Bail was set at $200,000.
Homeless man charged in auto theft case
Prosecutors have charged a 19-year-old homeless man with various crimes in connection with an auto theft case in Kaaawa on Tuesday that led to the lockdown of Kaaawa Elementary School.
Ossian Graham was arrested 2:50 p.m. Tuesday in Kaneohe after officers spotted the allegedly stolen vehicle he was driving. Police said Graham abandoned the stolen car, fled on foot and tried to hide in a house. Graham was charged Thursday with unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle, driving without a license, refusing to stop, reckless driving, fleeing the scene and first-degree trespassing. His bail was set at $20,000.
There was some confusion Tuesday when police officials told the media that the driver of a stolen vehicle in Pearl City, who allegedly struck a police officer while fleeing, had been arrested in Kaaawa. The driver and his passenger in the Pearl City case are still being sought.
Fire damages home of Kaneohe family
A Kaneohe family of four was displaced Friday night by a fire that damaged about 25 percent of a duplex unit.
Firefighters responded to the 5:47 p.m. alarm, and the fire was brought under control at 6:10 p.m. and extinguished by 6:41 p.m., said fire Capt. David Jenkins. The fire was contained to the rear unit of the single-story duplex, 45-638 Apuakea St. No one was home at the time. The cause of the fire and damage estimates were not available.
Firefighters help swimmers and hiker on Kauai
Kauai Fire Department personnel aided two swimmers and an injured hiker in separate incidents on the north shore Thursday.
The first rescue occurred about 2:30 p.m. at Larsen’s Beach where two males were swept out to sea.
A 63-year-old man from Long Beach, Calif., was snorkeling in the channel when he was pulled outside the reef by the strong current, Kauai officials said in a news release. His 16-year-old son then grabbed a rescue tube that was posted on the beach and swam out to his father.
Firefighters found the two hanging onto the rescue tube about 300 yards west of the channel. Two firefighters attempted a rescue, but the current was too strong for them to reach the distressed swimmers.
The current eventually carried the swimmers over the reef to calmer waters near the end of the beach. From there, they made it to shore and were met by fire personnel and paramedics.
Initially, the two men declined medical attention. However, first responders determined that the father had inhaled a large amount of salt water, making his breathing difficult, so he was taken to Wilcox Hospital for treatment.
The two firefighters who attempted the rescue were brought to shore on a Jet Ski that was manned by lifeguards from Tower 1.
While the rescue was in progress at Larsen’s Beach, the department’s helicopter flew to Hanakapiai to airlift a hiker with an ankle injury.
Firefighters carried the 36-year-old Medford, Ore., woman from the trail to the helicopter. From there, they flew to Princeville Airport and an ambulance then took her to Wilcox Hospital.
