Man pleads not guilty to manslaughter charges
Man pleads not guilty to manslaughter charges
A 33-year-old man recently pleaded not guilty to a manslaughter charge stemming from the 2003 death of his 2-month-old son in Ka’u.
Gilbert G. Dancel Jr. pleaded not guilty April 24 to one count manslaughter in connection with the March 24, 2003, death of Kaikela Medeiros-Dancel, according to 3rd Circuit Court records. He was indicted March 12 by a Big Island grand jury.
3rd Circuit Court Chief Judge Ronald Ibarra set Dancel’s jury trial to commence on Sept. 18, according to court records. Dancel’s $20,000 bail, which has been posted, was also maintained.
Medeiros-Dancel who resided in Kahuku, died of “abusive head trauma,” according to a 2003 Hawaii Police Department statement and West Hawaii Today archives. Dancel had summoned emergency help for the boy, saying the infant was having trouble breathing, but Medeiros-Dancel later died at Ka‘u Hospital.
Police initially investigated the case as a coroner’s inquest, but reclassified it to a manslaughter investigation after an autopsy indicated the boy died of abuse, according to police.
Hilo man dies in
early morning crash
A 31-year-old Hilo man is dead following a two-vehicle collision early Tuesday on Saddle Road.
The victim has been identified as Calsey B. Santos, according to the Hawaii Police Department.
Santos was reportedly driving a westbound 1994 Nissan four-door sedan around 5:30 a.m. when he apparently crossed the center line and sideswiped a 2005 UD Flatbed tow truck that was traveling eastbound, according to police.
Santos reportedly had to be extricated from his vehicle following the collision, according to the Hawaii Fire Department. He was transported to Hilo Medical Center where he was pronounced dead at 8:07 a.m.
The driver of the tow truck, a 48-year-old Kailua-Kona man, and his passenger, a 58-year-old Hilo man, were not injured in the crash, according to police.
Police have not determined if speed, alcohol or drugs were contributing factors in the crash. A negligent homicide investigation has been initiated and an autopsy has been ordered to determine the exact cause of death.
This is the 12th fatality recorded on Big Island public roads this year, compared with eight at this point in 2011, according to police.
Police arrest 29
for suspected DUI
Police arrested 29 drivers for suspected drunken driving between April 23 and Sunday; 10 were involved in traffic accidents and two were younger than 21.
Police have made 471 suspected DUI arrests this year compared with 459 during the same period in 2011, according to the Hawaii Police Department.
Kona officers arrested 15 motorists, South Hilo 10 and Puna two. Ka’u and South Kohala officers arrested one motorist in each district.
There have been 491 major accidents this year compared with 460 during the same period last year.
To date, there have been 11 traffic fatalities on Big Island public roadways, compared with eight fatalities during the same period in 2011, according to police.
Police investigate Pahoa robbery
Big Island police are investigating a reported robbery Tuesday morning in Pahoa.
A 43-year-old Pahoa man reported to police that while he was at a 24-hour convenience store around 2 a.m. in Pahoa, an acquittance, who was parked in the store’s lot, offered him a ride home, according to the Hawaii Police Department. He accepted the ride and was driven to an area off Kaohe Homestead Road where he was allegedly assaulted by the acquaintance who also took undisclosed items from the victim.
The acquaintance, and two other men, then entered an early model dark green Nissan Pathfinder and left the area, according to police.
Police have initiated second-degree robbery, second-degree terroristic threatening and first-degree burglary investigations in connection with the reported incident.
Officers are looking to question a 19-year-old Pahoa man in connection with the case. Kale Thomas Ramangmou is described as Filipino, 5 feet 2 inches tall, weighing about 140 pounds with a stocky build, tan complexion, short black hair and brown eyes.
Anyone with information on the case should call Detective Ernest Matsumoto Jr. at 961-2378 or by email at ematsumoto@co.hawaii.hi.us.
Those who prefer to remain anonymous may call Crime Stoppers at 329-8181 in Kona or 961-8300 in Hilo. All Crime Stoppers information is kept confidential.
By local sources