Colt Brennan investigated for felony drug possession and DUI - Hawaii News Now - KGMB and KHNL

Colt Brennan investigated for felony drug possession and DUI - Hawaii News Now - KGMB and KHNL

Story by Tim Sakahara for Hawaii News Now

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) -

Colt Brennan is one of the all time favorite University of Hawaii athletes and fans are disappointed to hear he's been arrested for felony drug possession and drunk driving.

At noon former UH star quarterback and Heisman Trophy finalist Colt Brennan was released pending investigation from the Honolulu Police Station.  He got into his attorney's Bentley and immediately got on his cell phone, no doubt talking about what happened 12 hours earlier.

Police say he was arrested in Kailua for drunk driving and promoting a dangerous drug in the third degree which is a felony.  Lab tests have not revealed what the powdery substance was.  The fact it's a "dangerous" drug means it is more serious than marijuana which is listed as a "harmful" drug under Hawaii law.

"There is more here as to how you get to being on top of the mountain to being in the gutter somewhere," said Michael Green, Brennan's Attorney. "How did I get here? Not why he got arrested but how did I wind up in jail. From being at the very top to being in a cell on Beretania Street. So I would describe his demeanor as pure sadness."

The rental car sat in the parking lot in front of the businesses at the corner of Kailua Road and Uluoa Street where Brennan was arrested.  A hat, gum and Bob Marley cigarette papers sat on the front seat.

Green says the traffic stop may not have been justified.  Brennan was stopped for going 10 miles per hour over the speed limit.  Green also says the drugs could have belonged to the rental car's previous customer.

Brennan had recently returned to Hawaii.  He had plans on staying permanently and is said to have been meeting with another local television station earlier in the day.

"Interviewing about him doing some work for them, piece work where they would pay him for various projects he did for them and he wound up being downtown and he stayed later walking around, hanging out kicking back and walked into a club or a place he knew and ran into somebody and having some drinks and went back home to Kailua where he was staying. He gets stopped on a traffic offense and winds up sitting in the can," said Green.

The arrest doesn't help his job prospects in TV or especially as a professional athlete.  The man who used to throw spirals for touchdowns now appears to have a spiraling career.

"When you get this kind of a case (teams) won't touch you after that. They worry about substance abuse problems," said Green.

"It's pretty shocking and pretty sad," said Gordon Ahnee, Kailua resident who lives near the arrest scene.  "You would think he left all that behind him but unfortunately I don't think so."

"It sends a very bad message to the kids. Especially those idolized him," said Darrylnn Ferreira, Kailua resident.

Brennan was released pending investigation and has not been charged, therefore there was no need to post bail.  No court date has been set.

Last month, Brennan was released by the Saskatchewan Roughriders two days before the first preseason game. He was competing for a back-up position on the Canadian Football League team.

Brennan was originally a sixth round pick of the Washington Redskins in the 2008 draft. He spent a short amount of time with the Oakland Raiders and Hartford Colonials of the UFL.

Back in Nov. 2010, Brennan was involved in a head-on vehicle crash on the Big Island.

Brennan's girlfriend at the time, Shakti Stream, was driving an SUV that crossed the center line and collided into a car driven by Dr. Theresa Wang.

Stream and Brennan were both hospitalized for less than a week. However, Wang needed more treatment.

Wang was taken to the Queen's Medical Center where she was in a coma for weeks. She was then transported to a Colorado rehab hospital that specializes in brain and spinal cord injuries.

Brennan says he does not remember the crash or the days after it.

Stay with HawaiiNewsNow.com for the latest updates on this story.

Commentary: It seems Colt has been making many poor choices lately that have gotten him into the spotlight for the wrong reason. Although he enjoyed a successful college football career, Colt has never been able to put it together in the NFL or even the CFL. Time will tell what happens in this current matter Colt finds himself in. It's sad when a talented athlete makes poor choices, without realizing their possible full potential in a professional league.

Colt could possibly tryout in the Arena Football League, he could possibly enjoy a successful career there. Hopefully Colt will get his act together, avoid future encounters with police for the wrong reasons.

Women Who Survived Theater Shooting Grieve for Hero Boyfriends

Story by CHRISTINA NG and DAN HARRIS


Of the 12 people killed in the Aurora theater shooting, four of them were men who made the ultimate sacrifice to protect their girlfriends. Now, each of these women are struggling to come to terms with both their grief and their gratitude.

Alexander Teves, 24, attended the midnight screening of "The Dark Knight Rises" with his girlfriend Amanda Lindgren , 24,and another friend.

When suspected gunman James Holmes opened fire in the sold out theater, Teves immediately lunged to block Lindgren from the gunfire.

"I was really, really confused at first about what was going on, so confused," Lindgren told ABC News. "But, it's like Alex didn't even hesitate. Because I sat there for a minute, not knowing what was going on, and he held me down and he covered my head and he said, 'Shh stay down. It's ok. Shh just stay down.' So I did."

Teves blocked the bullets from Lindgren but he was shot and killed. She was not hit.

"He was my angel that night, but he was my angel every day I knew him," Lindgren said. "I'm broken."

Lindgren reflected on the profoundly close relationship she had with Teves, saying that the couple would not go an hour in the day "without missing each other terribly."

"My other half was just ripped apart from me and so for me it's still unreal," she said. "I can't picture my life without him. How do you? When someone loves you that much and you love somebody that much…how do you believe that this is real? And of all places. We were in that theater, that specific room. We were just supposed to watch a movie."

When asked if she thought Teves knew he was putting himself in danger for her, Lindgren said, "I know he did. He'd do anything for me. He always told me that, too. I just wish I could have protected him the same way he protected me."

Teves' father Tom Teves is also devastated, but said that his son is still with him.

"I'm hollow. But Alex has come and brought me…from heaven, he's been bringing me hope," Teves told ABC News. "He's still my inspiration. And I know now more than ever that there is a God. Because of Alex. Because Alex is still coming through. Because that's the kind of man he is."

Elsewhere in theater nine, John Larimer and his girlfriend Julia Vojtsek went through a similar situation.

U.S. Navy Petty Officer 3rd Class John Larimer, 26, and his girlfriend Julia Vojtsek, 23, were sitting int the middle of the theater when the shooting began.

"John immediately and instinctively covered me and brought me to the ground in order to protect me from any danger," Vojtsek wrote in a statement. "Moments later, John knowingly shielded me from a spray of gunshots. It was then I believe John was hit with a bullet that would have very possibly struck me. I feel very strongly that I was saved by John and his ultimate kindness."

The couple had known each other since they were 21 and 18 years old when they met working at a Chili's in Illinois, where they are both from. Larimer was home for the summer from school and Vojtsek was getting ready to go to college. They became close and stayed in touch with Facebook and text messages.

This summer, Vojtsek's father Fred Vojtsek came to Colorado to work for an extended period of time. When Julia Vojtsek traveled to Colorado to spend part of her summer with her father, she told him that Larimer was stationed in Aurora and he encouraged her to see him.

"I wanted her to see him because he would have been a kid that a father wants to see his daughter with, a kid of values and things like that," Fred Vojtsek told ABCNews.com. He said his daughter and Larimer became boyfriend and girlfriend about three weeks ago. "So many kids these days don't really want to hear what parents have to say or engage or listen, and he did. That's what stood out with me."

"We were planning on going to church Saturday night," Vojstek said. "He was a good kid."

Fred Vojstek has been staying in a place just minutes away from from the Century 16 movie theater where the shooting took place. His panicked daughter called him as she was running out of the theater and he arrived within minutes of the shooting.

"She was hysterical and then she got more into a shock stage," Vojtsek said.

Since then, Julia Vojtsek has told her father that she was at the movie with Larimer, two other navy men and a woman. Fred Vojtsek said that after Larimer was shot, the other two navy members were "unbelievable" in making sure his daughter got out safely, even though they had just met her earlier that day.

"I'm grateful my daughter is alive and hopeful he can get through this," Vojtsek said, adding that she is "very, very traumatized."

He said that Larimer's family has been very good to his daughter and that he is "eternally grateful" for Larimer and his Navy friends for saving his daughter.

Vojtsek wrote that just weeks earlier, Larimer had spoken to her about his further advancement in the military.

"John convincingly stated to me that he wanted to be deployed for two simple reasons: He wanted to protect his country, and he wanted to save others from danger and harm," she wrote. "John adamantly wanted to make a difference in the world, and he thought that his military service would be the best chance for him to do so."

"John served his country to the fullest, fulfilling both of his goals," she added.

In addition to these two couples, Matthew McQuinn, 27, and Jon Blunk, 26, died saving their girlfriends in similar ways. Their girlfriends Samantha Yowler, 26, and Jansen Young, 21, did not respond to requests for comment.

Commentary: These gentlemen were real heroes in every sense of the word, when without hesitation they shielded their girlfriends from spraying bullets. The pure love these couples shared shall remain a love without end amen, while in this life these women will always carry the love of their boyfriends for a lifetime.

Lawyer says Colo. suspect's family stands by son

Lawyer says Colo. suspect's family stands by son

Accused movie theater shooter James Holmes makes his first court appearance at the Arapahoe County on July 23, 2012 in Centennial, Colorado. According to police, Holmes killed 12 people and injured 58 others during a shooting rampage at an opening night screening of "The Dark Knight Rises" July 20, in Aurora, Colorado. (RJ Sangosti - Pool, Getty Images)

CENTENNIAL, Colo. (AP) — The suspect in Friday's deadly movie theater shooting in Colorado has been seen publicly for the first time since then -- in court today, looking dazed, and with his hair dyed a comic-book shade of orange-red.

James Holmes said nothing, and simply closed his eyes at one point during the hearing. He's expected to be formally charged next Monday.

Prosecutors said later they didn't know if he was on medication.

 Holmes is being held in isolation.

One man who watched today's hearing says his son "could have wiped the floor with him without breaking a sweat." The angry words came from Tom Teves, whose son, Alex, was killed along with 11 others. He says he wishes the suspect had picked on "some guys who know how to use guns."

The lawyer for Holmes' family says they support him, explaining to reporters in San Diego: " He's their son." But she adds that the family's hearts go out to the victims and their families. 

Commentary: I can't even imagine what the family of James Holmes is experiencing in wake of this senseless tragedy. No one wins in such matters, as justice needs to be carried out according to the rule of law. I do hope something good can come out of this tragedy, as the healing begins to all affected families of those who died, those who were injured.

Former Hawaii woman killed in Colorado theater massacre

Former Hawaii woman killed in Colorado theater massacre

Rebecca Wingo lived in Hawaii for several years while she was stationed here in the Air Force.  She is one of 12 people killed in the deadly theater shooting.

According to WOAI, Rebecca had left the military and had settled in Aurora, Colorado with her two young daughters.

Wingo’s father, Steve Hernandez, posted the following message on his Facebook page:
“I lost my daughter yesterday to a mad man, my grief right now is inconsolable, I hear she died instantly, without pain, however the pain is unbearable. Lord why, why, why????”

Friends who stayed in touch with Wingo after she left Hawaii share their memories of her, tonight on the KHON2 News at Five and Six.

Additional info:

Warner Brothers studio will make a donation to the charities that are supporting victims of the Aurora, Colo. mass shooting, according to the Hollywood Reporter, Variety, and E! Online websites.

The studio will contribute to a fund known asgivingfirst.org, an arm of Colorado’s Community First Foundation. Some of the non-profits working with that umbrella group are the Aurora Mental Health Center, the Colorado Organization for Victim Assistance and the Bonfils Blood Center Foundation. For the full list, click here.

The NY Daily News reported yesterday that fund had so far raised $32,000 for those non-profits, as of Sunday evening.

Colo. Gov. John Hickenlooper has said that through his sources he will match the donations that go to givingfirst.org, reported the NY Daily News.

“The Dark Knight Rises” emerged atop the box office this weekend, despite the tragic theater massacre. The Christopher Nolan-directed film raked in a record-setting amount of over $160 million.

That is the third biggest debut on record for a 2-D film. “The Avengers” earned $200.3 million in its opening weekend, but was also shown in 3-D, which rakes in more cash due to higher ticket prices.

Did you expect the studio to make a donation?

Commentary: It's very sad what occurred in Aurora, Colorado to completely innocent bystanders attending the premiere of Batman. What Warner Brothers is doing is very honorable in light of this unfortunate tragedy. There will be countless theories bouncing around on tv, talk radio shows on why this happened. Gun control nuts are already screaming for tighter gun laws, despite the fact that Aurora has strict gun laws on the books. 

This story almost brings back memories from the tragedy that occurred at Va. Tech University several years ago. The court case of James Holmes is going to be most interesting once it takes place. 

Shooting heightens concern at entertainment venues

Story by Jim Salter for A.P News

ST. LOUIS (AP) — The mass shooting at a Colorado movie theaterrattled the nerves of some other moviegoers with opening weekend tickets for the new Batman film and led some cinema chains to add more guards. Experts say it's unlikely, though, that venues will implement even stricter security measures because it would significantly alter the experience of going to a film, concert or game.

The early Friday rampage in Aurora, Colo., at a midnight screening of the new Batman movie, "The Dark Knight Rises," left 12 people dead and dozens wounded. Authorities say the gunman apparently slipped out through an emergency exit to arm himself, then re-entered that way and opened fire on the startled audience.

The attack had a chilling effect on some ticketholders who had been eagerly awaiting what had been billed as the summer's hottest movie.

"I'm just going to keep my eyes and ears open for anything strange," 27-year-old Charlotte Kimbrell, of Belleville, Ill., said before a screening of "Dark Knight" at a theater in nearby O'Fallon. "I'll probably be sitting all the way in back today, away from the exit doors."

It was in the back of some baseball fans' minds Friday, as well.

"I think paranoia takes over after something like that and something like today, but I think for the most part, all they can do is check your bags and hope that you're not crazy," said David Karney, of Quincy, Mich., who watched the Detroit Tigers host the Chicago White Sox. "At the end of the day, if you're crazy and want to do something, you're going to do it."

The angst is understandable after the attack, which was one of the deadliest mass shootings in recent U.S. history. But security experts say changes made at ballparks, theaters and concert venues after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks have gone a long way toward making them safer.

"The problem is security is never 100 percent," said Richard Sem, a longtime security management executive from Wisconsin who is now a consultant. "We look at what's reasonable, practical. You don't necessarily need Fort Knox to go to a Sunday afternoon baseball game."

A decade after the terrorist attacks, at ballparks and concerts, bag checks are now common when entering a venue. Sometimes, there are metal detector wand scans at sporting events. Some movie theaters already have random bag checks. But experts say that it can be a difficult choice to decide where to install additional extra measures, and note that it's no guarantee a patron will be safer with them in place.

"Are we going to put in security that might not work at every movie theater, at every mall?" asked Derek Catsam, a history professor at the University of Texas of the Permian who studies and writes about stadium security issues. "Think of all the places you go during the day where you stand in line or are stuck in crowds. This could happen at any of those places."

At Busch Stadium in St. Louis, where the Cardinals were hosting the rival Chicago Cubs for three sold-out weekend games, security officials were on alert Friday.

"We're concerned, we're certainly saddened and we'll be extra vigilant in our regular security," said Joe Abernathy, vice president of stadium operations.

Abernathy said there were no major security changes planned because the team feels it's already doing everything it can to keep fans safe. Police officers man stadium entrances, and there are nearly 150security cameras at the ballpark. All bags are checked at the entrance. And costumes, in which someone might hide a weapon, aren't allowed, not even masks.

Fans have generally embraced the changes. Butch Cox, a fan at Friday's Cardinals-Cubs game, said, "If they wanted to strip search me, I could care less. If it's for the better, I'm all for it."

Richard Ballentine, of Valrico, Fla., who watched the Tampa Bay Rays host the Seattle Mariners on Friday, said he was worried that the Colorado attack would lead to airport-style metal detectors atmovie theaters and stadiums.

"I'm actually of the opinion that most of those checks are a waste of time. They're reactive instead of being proactive," Ballentine said. "... The truth is terrorists will look at the things that we're doing to try to provide security and they'll look for other places that are weak spots, and they'll just adapt."

Brian McCarthy, of the National Football League, said security procedures are under constant review and are sometimes adjusted.

Last season, the league provided handheld metal detectors to its 32 teams — part of a massive security effort at NFL games and one fans don't seem to mind because they're less intrusive than pat-downs, said Bob Calderon, who oversees public safety at the Edward Jones Dome in St. Louis.

"They'd rather be safe than sorry," he said. "We try to reach a happy medium."

Officials at St. Louis-based Wehrenberg Theatres Inc. met before dawn Friday to consider what to do after the shooting. The chain manages 15 cinemas in Missouri, Illinois, Minnesota and Iowa. But they noted that security measures were already in place. Wehrenberg's vice president of marketing, Kelly Hoskins, said the chain already uses off-duty uniformed and civilian-dressed police and does random checks of handbags for movie-goers.

"Sometimes you don't want it to feel like a police state," Hoskins said. "You don't want to increase security to an uncomfortable level."

___

Associated Press journalists John Affleck and Barry Wilner in New York, Jay Reeves in Birmingham, Ala.; Fred Goodall in St. Petersburg, Fla., Jim Suhr in O'Fallon, Ill, and RB Fallstrom in St. Louis contributed to this report.

Commentary: Have we in society reached the point where extra security will always be needed at various entertainment values? What occurred in Aurora, Colorado is certainly very unfortunate, shall most likely bring the issue of gun ownership back to the forefront. James Holmes the suspect currently in military confinement certainly planned this event in advance, being from San Diego, has put the city in the limelight as well. It shall be quite interesting to see what other facts arise, whether others may be charged as well for either selling or sending the ammunition to this chap. 

Not that long ago, we all felt safe attending various events at entertainment venues, although after one of the worst mass shootings in recent history, will we ever feel comfortable going to a entertainment venue, without the fear of something like this possibly occurring again in the near future? It's a shame that its come down to this, that families will now always be looking over their shoulders every time they go somewhere. 

Hawaii woman called “bag of bones” by employer, awarded $193K

Hawaii woman called “bag of bones” by employer, awarded $193K

It's being called a victory for civil rights law, one that sends a strong message to all Hawaii business owners.

A federal judge has handed down a $193,000 award in an age discrimination case the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission called especially appalling.

The case landed in court after Debra Moreno, theMaui office coordinator for Hawaii Healthcare Professionals, said she was fired because of her age. Moreno lost her job in 2008. At the time she was 54 years old.

The EEOC filed the lawsuit on Moreno's behalf.

The suit claimed the company's owner ordered that Moreno be fired after telling a manager that Moreno "looks old"..."sounds old on the telephone"...and is "like a bag of bones."

Moreno moved to Idaho after losing her job.

"I am elated about it.  I have waited over 4 years now patiently and I am glad it came to the result that it did,” said Moreno.  “When someone says I look like a bag of bones or I sound old on the telephone or I look old it’s very hurtful,” she added.

Moreno says her former employer is no longer in business, meaning there's no way to know right now exactly how much of the $193,000 award she'll receive.

Commentary: Hopefully business owners, companies around the nation will take serious notes, after this victory for a former worker. Workers and management should always treat one another with respect, shouldn't degrade the other to the point where it can come back and haunt you later. Although, the compensation doesn't replace the emotional distress, it sends a stern message that should be heeded.

HART set to receive nearly $47 million in GET collections for rail

HART set to receive nearly $47 million in GET collections for rail

The Honolulu Authority for Rapid Transportation will receive nearly $47 million in

General Excise and Use Tax (GET) revenue collected during the second quarter of

2012.

The $46.99 million collected from April-June 2012 brings the total GET revenue

received for the Honolulu rail project to $905.72 million.

“Passing the $900 million mark in GET-generated revenue shows that the financial

picture for our rail project remains strong,” said HART CEO and Executive Director

Dan Grabauskas. 

“Our solid local funding source positions us well with the federal

Transit Administration as we wait for word on the approval of our $1.55 billion in

federal money through the Full Funding Grant Agreement.”

The half-percent GET surcharge dedicated only to the Honolulu rail system began in

January 2007 and is set to expire at the end of 2022. The surcharge is estimated to

fund nearly 70 percent of the project’s cost, with the remaining balance to be paid

for by federal funding.

Commentary: Here's a link with additional information to this story

http://honolulutransit.org/rail-facts.aspx

Commentary: It will be really interesting seeing whether this rail project will really make a difference in terms of reducing daily traffic congestion going to and from downtown Honolulu. Trains have made a difference in larger cities, however, it hasn't reduced the amount of daily traffic that travel on the freeways. Only time will tell whether this rail project truly makes a difference or becomes an eye sore in the event things do turn out as planned.

Hawai'i included in tsunami debris clean-up grant

Hawai'i included in tsunami debris clean-up grant

Hawai'i along with Alaska, Washington, Oregon andCalifornia will each get $50,000 in tsunami debris clean-up money.

Its part of a $25,000,000 grant from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration to deal with debris from last year's tsunami in Japan.

That amount is not sitting well with everyone.
  
Senator Mark Begich of Alaska quickly deemed the amount "woefully inadequate."

The democrat says $50,000 is not even enough to clean up one beach. 

He has requested at least $45,000,000 in funding.

Commentary: That amount of money may really not be sufficient to clean up the lingering debris coming from Japan's tsunami from last year. The complete total to actually clean up all that mess that comes floating in may be higher than people think.

2 days, 4 fires in same neighborhood

2 days, 4 fires in same neighborhood

Honolulu police need your help in solving arson cases.

In two days, there were four fires in a Pearl City Naval housing area.

Three families are now without a home.

This was the scene Sunday morning, just before 3:30 a.m.

Police say a car parked in the carport was intentionally set on fire and the blaze spread to the four unit home.

It was the second incident in the same neighborhood. 

The first happened the day before when a different car was set on fire.

“With the vehicles catching fire in the carport and damaging the building we're lucky that nobody was hurt because they were all sleeping at the time,” said Sgt. Kim Buffett of CrimeStoppers.

Honolulu police and fire crews returned to the same neighborhood Sunday morning just before 9 a.m.

“Officers were sent to a driveway nearby probably about 1,000 feet away from the second incident where they discovered several gas cans burnt wooden torches lying on the driveway,” said Sgt. Buffett.

Sgt. Buffett says the arsonist poured gas around a car and left a trail of about 75 to 100 feet long.

The suspect tried to light it, but was unsuccessful.

The most recent fire happened about 6 hours later.

A fire sparked in an open field next to an abandoned warehouse. 

It burned about sixty feet of grass, but no structures were damaged.

“This is random this is totally random we don't know if at this time if it's the same suspects but due to the areas the time elements we don't know if it's one person if it's more than one person,” she said.

In all, damage is estimated at $94,000.

If you have any information about these fires, call CrimeStoppers at #955-8300.

Commentary: During these economic times, it's unbelievable that such things can still happen, especially to Naval families living in off base housing. It seems like the perpetrators are scoping the area to see which houses they hope to destroy via fire, before setting them. I certainly local police are able to apprehend these knuckleheads and punish them to the full extent of the law.

City signs supervisor under investigation for ethics violations - Hawaii News Now - KGMB and KHNL

City signs supervisor under investigation for ethics violations - Hawaii News Now - KGMB and KHNL

Story By Keoki Kerr 


 Honolulu (HawaiiNewsNow) – A city traffic signs supervisor is being investigated for spending significant amounts of time at home during his shift, halfway across the island from where he was supposed to be working.

City employees in the Department of Facility Maintenance complain some of their co-workers and even supervisors have been allowed to misbehave for years, with few consequences, sources said. 

Patrick Costa has worked for the city for 24 years. He's traffic signs supervisor for the department of facility maintenance, working out of the city's Halawa Corporation Yard. 

And Costa has an important job, overseeing a staff of about 24 people who install and maintain everything from stop signs, speed limit and no parking signs to lane striping along city streets all over Oahu. 

Now, sources said, Costa is under investigation because employees say he frequently would go to work in Halawa, check in on his employees and then drive his city truck back to his house on Keolu Drive in Windward Oahu. 

He'd spend hours at home during his shifts, sources said, all the while getting paid by the city, sometimes collecting overtime or higher night differential pay. 

A city spokeswoman said Costa's on leave pending the outcome of an investigation. 

When a Hawaii News Now reporter knocked on door of his home Monday morning, Costa came to the door but said "I have no comment," when asked if he wanted to add anything to our story. 

Investigators will compare Costa's time sheets, on which he claimed he was actually working, with where he was actually located on the island, using the GPS information in his city cell phone, a source said.  That way, prosecutors will eventually be able to prove in court that instead of being at the Halawa yard or another city location, he was actually spending large amounts of time at his home along Keolu drive, a source said. 

Costa's neighbors told a Hawaii News now reporter Costa did not try to hide the city truck he'd park right in front of his house on Keolu drive for hours at a time.  And neighbors said an investigator for the city interviewed them and took photos of Costa arriving home in the middle of his shifts.  

Costa's base city salary ranged from $44,232 to $48,852, but he earned more with overtime and differentials for working night shifts, sources said.  

Through a spokeswoman, city Department of Facility Maintenance Director Westley Chun declined comment because an internal investigation is underway. 

Commentary: A supervisor in Mr. Costa's position should be forced to retire after being caught being at home, while he was suppose to be performing his job. During these economic times, why would someone in Mr. Costa's position risk such foolish behavior. His co-workers were smart to have the light shined on this matter, since this has reportedly been taking place for years. I hope the Department of Facility Maintenance does the right thing by forcing this gentlemen to retire, setting an example that such behavior won't be tolerated in the future.

Thousands of tiny crabs wash up on Oahu beaches - Hawaii News Now - KGMB and KHNL

Thousands of tiny crabs wash up on Oahu beaches - Hawaii News Now - KGMB and KHNL

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) -

Hawaii's top marine biologists are baffled by an odd site on many of our beaches. Thousands of dead purple crabs washed up in the surf.

Hawaii News Now has received many emails about the tiny crabs found along the south shores and out to Hanauma bay.

The director at the Waikiki aquarium tells us that they are juvenile "7-11" crabs also known as the spotted reef crab.

They are common in Hawaii, however experts at the aquarium they have never seen anything like this and they are searching for answers.

"Could be storms although we haven't had any, it could be a flux of warm or cold water coming in but I don't have any signs of that either.  It could be some kind of pollution, but if it was pollution it would have affected other species as well. So we really don't know," said Dr. Andrew Rossiter, Director of the Waikiki Aquarium.

The crabs washing ashore are less than an inch long, but they can grow to be about six inches across.