It’s important that the Honolulu Police Department has opened an investigation into the death of a man, 77, who apparently suffered injuries during a Dec. 28 police arrest at Ala Moana Center for alleged moped theft. He was found dead in his home on Jan. 10, a week-plus after saying he “had been assaulted by police officers” and was taken to a hospital, where he was found to have multiple fractures of his ribs and face.

The two undercover officers involved in the Dec. 28 arrest are on restricted duty while HPD’s manslaughter investigation proceeds. Public disclosure of the results, expected in several months, will be anxiously awaited.