OCCC inmate allegedly attacks nurse
An Oahu Community Correctional Center inmate attacked a nurse Tuesday, the Department of Public Safety said in a news release late Friday afternoon.
Earlier Friday an anonymous tipster contacted the Honolulu Star-Advertiser, which made calls to the Public Safety Department before a news release was issued.
Toni Schwartz, spokeswoman for the Public Safety Department, said information was not released sooner because department officials were respecting the wishes of the nurse, who wanted to return to work without the incident being publicized.
OCCC inmate John Fuimaono, who is being held for third-degree assault, was being evaluated at the prison’s health care unit Tuesday when he allegedly grabbed the nurse and held her in a chokehold, DPS said.
Prison guards immediately intervened and distracted the inmate so that the nurse could push him away and escape, DPS said.
The nurse was taken to an emergency room for treatment of a small bruise but was not admitted to the hospital.
The incident lasted five minutes, DPS said.
Deputy sheriffs arrested Fuimaono on suspicion of unlawful imprisonment. The case is being investigated by the attorney general’s office.
Honolulu Zoo euthanizes ailing giraffe
The Honolulu Zoo’s 24-year-old giraffe Yasmin, suffering with the difficulties of old age, was euthanized Friday, city officials said.
Zoo veterinarians followed American Veterinary Medical Association guidelines to avoid any further pain, the city said.
Giraffes have an average life expectancy of 10 to 15 years in the wild and 20 to 25 years in captivity. Since coming to the Honolulu Zoo from Texas in 1992, Yasmin had given birth to four giraffes.
Man arrested and charged in fatal crash
Maui police arrested a Kula man after he was indicted in a fatal motor vehicle crash on Piilani Highway last year.
Michael Cattaneo, 29, was arrested Friday and charged with negligent homicide in the death of bicyclist Karl B. Hagen of Wailea on April 12. A second negligent-homicide charge was brought in connection with a vulnerable bicyclist, and Cattaneo was also charged with driving under the influence of drugs and with having no insurance.
Bail was set at $100,000, police said.
The arrest came after "hundreds of hours spent reconstructing the crash" by Maui Police Department investigators, said Sgt. William Hankins.
"Families of crash victims who are killed or seriously injured deserve justice. It is the goal of the Maui Police Department Vehicle Homicide Section to thoroughly investigate these crashes and work with the prosecutor’s office to hold those responsible for their actions," Hankins said. "We owe it to the victim and their family members to help bring closure from these avoidable crashes."
Live streaming of meetings offered online
KAILUA-KONA » County Council and committee meetings on Hawaii island are now being streamed live online.
West Hawaii Today said Friday the streaming will be available on the Hawaii County Council’s website beginning Friday.
Webcasts of the meetings will be archived on the website.
People will be able to jump to specific points in the meetings and to download relevant documents.
