Waiawa guard charged in gunfire incident

Damon Pavao

A 49-year-old Waiawa Correctional Facility guard was charged Friday with firing gunshots from his Pearl City home that led to the two-hour closure of the only access to Pacific Palisades Wednesday night.

Damon Pavao was charged with first-degree reckless endangering, promotion of a dangerous drug and possession of drug paraphernalia. Bail was set at $25,000.

Police responding to reports of gunshots coming from a house on Waimano Home Road closed Komo Mai Drive, the lone access to Pacific Palisades, and another nearby intersection for more than two hours after arresting a suspect and searching the neighborhood.

School loses computers in 2 burglaries

Hawaii island police are investigating two recent burglaries at Laupahoehoe Elementary and High School in which $7,380 in computer equipment was taken.

The first burglary occurred sometime between March 8 and 19, during spring break. The second occurred sometime between March 21 and 22.

Among the items stolen were Lenovo Thinkpad L412 laptop computers, IBM and Lenovo desktop computers and monitors, and HP printers.

Chinatown apartment fire is ruled arson

A fire investigator has determined that a fire at a Chinatown apartment complex Tuesday night was intentionally set.

The fire caused about $1,000 in damage to a first-floor unit at Pauahi Hale, a low-rise apartment complex on Pauahi Street. Firefighters responded to the call at about 6:35 p.m. and were able to confine the fire to the unit where it started, said fire Capt. Terry Seelig, Honolulu Fire Department spokesman. The fire was declared extinguished at about 7:10 p.m.

The case has been handed over to the Hono lulu Police Department for an arson investigation.

The sole tenant of the unit, who appears to be in her 50s, was not injured, Seelig said. The American Red Cross was called to help her find housing.

Man rescued after falling into Ala Wai

Firefighters rescued a 42-year-old man who fell into the Ala Wai Canal Friday morning and couldn’t get out.

Fire Capt. Terry Seelig said the man apparently fell asleep on the wall near the Hawai‘i Convention Center and fell about six feet into a shallow area of the Ala Wai.

There was only about six inches of water in the area where he fell between Kalakaua Avenue and Ala Moana Boulevard, Seelig said. A friend tried to help him out but could not carry him. Fire rescuers put the man on a back board and got him to paramedics.

An Emergency Medical Services supervisor said paramedics were dispatched at 9:40 a.m. and took the man to the hospital in serious condition.

NEIGHBOR ISLANDS

Group assaults, robs Pahoa man

A 39-year-old Pahoa man was accosted and robbed by a group of young men in Puna early Friday morning, Hawaii County police said.

The man reported that he was walking along Highway 130 near Pahoa High School at about 2:15 a.m. when he was accosted by five to six young men who were also walking in the area. They assaulted him and stole his backpack, police said.

The victim walked to Pahoa town and notified police. He refused treatment for his non-life-threatening injuries. Police recovered the bag.

The investigation is classified as a second-degree robbery and a third-degree assault.

Police ask that anyone who may have witnessed the incident contact Detective Norbert Serrao Jr. at 961-2383 or nserrao@co.hawaii.hi.us.