Police on Thursday arrested Gary Landis, who was released June 3 from police custody in the stabbing death of an 80-year-old newspaper vendor, on suspicion of trying to rob a 75-year-old woman in Honolulu.
Police arrested Landis at 10:48 a.m. at an Ala Moana Boulevard address on suspicion of first-degree robbery. Landis has no local address.
Landis allegedly used a dangerous instrument to steal the woman’s purse at 10:10 a.m. Thursday, police said. The woman was taken to a hospital where she was treated and later released, police said.
Landis was found nearby, and police arrested him after a foot chase.
On June 5 at 2:15 a.m., Landis was arrested and cited for being at Kapiolani Park after it had closed.
On June 2, a week after his release from Oahu Community Correctional Center, Landis was arrested on suspicion of murder in the Nov. 9 death of Thaddeus “Ted” Pirga Jr. of Hawaii Kai.
Pirga, a popular seller of the Sunday Honolulu Star-Advertiser in Kaimuki, was preparing to sell newspapers near Cafe Miro on Waialae Avenue when he was fatally stabbed.
Landis pleaded guilty in February to second-degree robbery for stealing items from Food Pantry in Waikiki.
On Nov. 12 police arrested Landis for stealing razor blades and a deck of cards. A security guard, who detained Landis until police arrived, was punched in the face.
Landis was sentenced to four months’ probation May 26 and released a day later.
Autopsy set for 43-year-old skateboarder
An autopsy will be performed to determine the cause of death of a 43-year-old man who died after a skateboard accident Tuesday in Ewa Beach.
He was taken to the Queen’s Medical Center in critical condition following the accident on Ala Loa Street at 12:38 a.m. and died at the hospital Wednesday.
Witnesses said the man was seen hanging onto a moving truck while skateboarding in the area. Police said he was later found unresponsive.
The medical examiner did not release the name of the man.
Kalihi man accused of assaulting teen
Prosecutors have charged a 23-year-old man with sexual assault of a 17-year-old girl in Kalihi.
Mitieli Takitaki Jr. of Kalihi was charged Wednesday night with first-degree sexual assault.
The girl reported the man sexually assaulted her at 3 p.m. Feb. 1.
Police arrested Takitaki on Tuesday on suspicion of first-degree and third-degree sexual assault. His bail was set at $50,000.
