A Kapolei Elementary School student reported that a stranger with a beard tried to kidnap him Wednesday morning as he was walking to school, but he managed to break free after kicking the man.
School Principal Cindy Otsu sent a letter to parents and guardians Wednesday afternoon saying the boy was walking near Kaiau Avenue at about 8:10 a.m. when a man “grabbed him by the shoulders from behind and threatened to take him.”
The student kicked the man in the leg and the man fled, she wrote. Otsu said the student was unharmed.
The student reported the incident to school administrators, who reported it to police.
In her letter, Otsu described the alleged kidnapper as a slim man, possibly in his 30s, with a beard, wearing a black hooded sweatshirt, blue jeans and shoes.
Police have classified the case as an attempted kidnapping.
Department of Education spokeswoman Donalyn Dela Cruz said she did not have information on the age of the student.
“Usually reports that we get from students is that there is an individual in a van wanting to coax them over,” she said. “The nature of this … this seems more aggressive, at least he took initiative to break free so in that sense it is different.“
Man injured by morning fire in Chinatown
Honolulu Fire Department investigators have determined that an early Wednesday morning fire in Chinatown, involving a building and a van, was intentionally set.
The Fire Department has turned the case over to police.
A 63-year-old man injured in the fire, reported at 5:58 a.m. Wednesday at 930 Kekaulike St., was treated at the scene by Emergency Medical Services paramedics for minor burns.
Damage to the building was estimated at $15,000 — $5,000 for the structure’s contents and $11,000 for the van.
NEIGHBOR ISLANDS
Hilo man held as a suspect in Jan. 31 shooting
Hawaii County police have arrested a 43-year-old Hilo man in connection with a shooting that occurred in the Honolii lookout area in January.
The suspect was arrested Tuesday on suspicion of attempted second-degree murder. The shooting occurred shortly before 4:35 a.m. on Jan. 31.
Police said a 31-year-old Kona man was transported by a private vehicle to Hilo Medical Center, where he underwent surgery before being flown in guarded condition to a hospital on Oahu.
Police are seeking individuals who witnessed the shooting. Witnesses are asked to call Detective Clarence Davies at 961-2383 or send email to clarence.davies@hawaiicounty.gov. Tipsters also may call CrimeStoppers, 961-8300.
Killer of goose gets probation, suspended term
A German tourist convicted in Hawaii for killing a nene at a Hawaii island golf course has been sentenced to one year of probation.
Hawaii News Now reported that 74-year-old Uwe Dettmar was also given a 30-day suspended prison sentence after being found guilty Tuesday of violating state rules protecting endangered species. He pleaded no contest to the charge in connection with the incident at the Mauna Kea Golf Course.
A witness had reported seeing Dettmar swinging his golf club at a goose on Feb. 6 and then running it over with a golf cart.
Dettmar has been ordered to pay $11,000 in fines, most of which will go to the Endangered Wildlife Fund.
Dettmar said in court Tuesday that his wife had been afraid of the goose.
