Pearl City house fire found to be arson
Honolulu Fire Department investigators have determined that an early morning fire that broke out at a Navy family housing complex on the Pearl City peninsula was set intentionally, a department spokesman said Sunday.
The investigation has been concluded and passed on to Honolulu police for criminal investigation, fire Capt. Gary Lum said.
The fire broke out at about 3:30 a.m. Sunday and heavily damaged the garage and first floor of one unit. Three other adjoining units also suffered smoke and water damage, said Agnes Tauyan, a public affairs officer with the Navy.
The fire apparently started in a carport and took nearly an hour to extinguish, according to fire officials.
Eleven people — a family of four, a family of three and two families of two — were affected, and the Red Cross and military agencies are assisting them, Tauyan said.
The family of three decided to stay in their unit, while the others are in temporary housing.
Man who died after chase in mall is ID’d
The Honolulu Medical Examiner’s Office will conduct an autopsy today to determine the cause of a death of a 26-year-old man who apparently went into cardiac arrest after being chased by Ala Moana Center security officers.
The Medical Examiner’s office identified the man as Michael Shimamura-Robinson, 26. He was a Hawaii resident, but a local address was not available, the Medical Examiner’s office said.
Police said Shimamura-Robison died after struggling with mall security Friday night.
Police said security called for help about an argument at 9:16 p.m. and that a man was taken to a hospital.
An Emergency Medical Services supervisor said paramedics took the man to a hospital in extremely critical condition.
The man was running from security when he fell down a flight of stairs and went into cardiac arrest, radio communications said.
