Suspect in fatal moped hit-and-run in court

A 47-year-old man appeared in Circuit Court Thursday after he was charged with negligent homicide in the 2017 hit-and-run of a moped rider near the Hawai‘i Convention Center.

Jerry T. Putnam appeared before Judge Colette Garibaldi on charges of first-degree negligent homicide and an accidents involving death or serious bodily injury in the death of Paul I. Andrews of Honolulu.

His attorney, Dean Hoe, entered a not guilty plea to the charges. Garibaldi scheduled his trial for December.

Putnam remains free after posting $20,000 bail.

The deadly crash occurred shortly after midnight on May 27, 2017. Police said Andrews was traveling Diamond Head-bound on Kapiolani Boulevard on a moped when a Volkswagen operated by Putnam made a left turn onto Atkinson Drive, into the path of the moped.

Andrews sustained injuries to his head when he was thrown from his moped and was taken in critical condition to a hospital where he died.

Police said Putnam fled the scene but was located later that day. He was arrested on suspicion of operating a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant and failure to render aid.

Police released him pending further investigation.

An Oahu grand jury issued a $20,000 bench warrant against Putnam on Oct. 3 after they returned an indictment charging him with negligent homicide and accidents involving death or serious bodily injury.

Police arrest alleged purse thief in Waikiki

Police arrested a man for reportedly stealing a visitor’s purse in Waikiki on Wednesday night.

Police said the suspect, of no local address, grabbed the victim’s purse off of a table at a restaurant at approximately 11:05 p.m.

Police apprehended the culprit, and the purse, which contained the visitor’s cellphone and cash, was recovered.

The suspect was arrested on suspicion of second-degree theft.

Man arrested after Moiliili store robbery

Police arrested a 29-year-old man after he allegedly robbed a convenience store in Moiliili early Thursday.

Police said the suspect entered the store at approximately 2:40 a.m. and demanded property from an employee while brandishing an unspecified dangerous instrument.

He fled the establishment with the property but police located him nearby and arrested him on suspicion of first-degree robbery.

Son arrested for allegedly assaulting mother

Police arrested a 47-year-old man for allegedly assaulting his mother at her Kalihi home on Thursday.

Police said the man violated a temporary restraining order by entering her home and assaulting her.

She did not suffer serious injuries, police said, but because of the TRO violation, he was arrested at 10:51 a.m. on suspicion of second-degree assault, first-degree burglary and violating the TRO.