POLICE BEAT
Canadian tourist dies after swim
Advertiser Staff
A 43-year-old Canadian tourist who died Thursday after taking part in a swim with the dolphins tour on the Leeward coast has been identified as Sherry Louise Kerr, the medical examiner's office said.
Police said the woman, a single parent, went on the tour with her 12-year-old son and was in the water for about five minutes when she became ill and was taken back to the Wai'anae Small Boat Harbor.
An ambulance took Kerr to St. Francis Medical Center-West where she was pronounced dead at 2:29 p.m.
The Visitor Aloha Society of Hawai'i, the police, St. Francis Medical Center-West and Canadian airline officials helped the boy return to his home in Calgary, Canada, where he is in the care of his aunt and uncle.
BRUSHFIRE BURNS NEAR WATER PARK
A fire that may have been deliberately set burned about 50 acres near Hawaiian Waters Adventure Park last night.
HFD Capt. Emmit Kane said the brushfire, which was mauka of the water park off Farrington Highway, was reported at 6:20 p.m. Eight companies and 45 firefighters responded, and the fire was contained at about 8:30. There were no injuries and no property damage, Kane said. Firefighters expected to be on the scene until about 10:30 p.m.
Kane said the fire was "suspicious in origin."
MAUI BOY, 12, DROWNS IN REEF
KU'AU, Maui — Pounding surf on Maui's north shore yesterday claimed the life of a 12-year-old Maui boy who was knocked down by a wave while fishing with his father on the reef off Ku'au.
The accident happened shortly after 1 p.m. when the boy walked out to his father on the reef between Mama's Fish House and Ho'okipa, a popular spot for casting. Police said the father told his son to return to shore because of the rough water, but a wave washed the boy into a hole in the reef.
The boy was trapped underwater and apparently drowned before his body surfaced. The father and bystanders helped bring him to shore, where cardiopulmonary resuscitation was begun. Firefighters from the Kahului Fire Station tried to revive the boy before he was turned over to paramedics.
Police said the father was injured while trying to rescue his son on the reef and also was taken to Maui Memorial Medical Center. Police have not released the boy's name.
MAN GETS PRISON TIME IN DRUG CASE
A 46-year-old Kona man has been sentenced to more than five years in prison after he was convicted in federal court of conspiring to distribute crystal methamphetamine.
Nathan Abe was sentenced by U.S. Judge Helen Gillmor on Thursday to five years and nine months and she also fined Abe $7,000.
Abe was arrested in February 2005 at the Keahole-Kona International Airport by Hawai'i County police, who recovered packets of crystal meth, or ice, and drug paraphernalia in his vehicle. Two O'ahu residents, Eugene Hall, 51, and Leslie Lum-King, 25, were arrested along with Abe.
In September, U.S. District Judge Susan Oki Mollway sentenced Hall to the same prison term as Abe, while Lum-King received a 21-month term.
SUSPECT, 75, HELD IN SHOOTING CASE
Police have arrested a 75-year-old Makakilo man as a suspect in the Dec. 29 shooting of a 28-year-old woman at Tracks Beach Park in Nanakuli.
The victim was taken to The Queen's Medical Center the day of the shooting and was initially listed in guarded condition with a gunshot wound to her left shoulder. The woman was shot about 5 p.m. but told investigators she did not see where the shot came from or who might have fired it.
Police now believe the shooting might have followed an argument. They said the suspect was arrested Thursday on suspicion of attempted second-degree murder. No charges have been filed.
BOYS ARRESTED IN HAU'ULA BURGLARY
Two 14-year-old boys were arrested as suspects in the burglary of a Hau'ula home Thursday. Police said they were caught about 4:45 p.m. inside a home belonging to a 46-year-old woman.
ARMED MAN ROBS HONOLULU BANK
A man believed to be in his mid-20s robbed a Honolulu branch of Hawaii National Bank about 3:55 p.m. Thursday.
Police said the man entered the bank, waited until all the other customers left and handed the teller a note. The robber then lifted his shirt to display a semi-automatic pistol tucked into his waistband, police said. He left the bank after being given an undisclosed amount of cash.
