Hawaii Police Department
Criminal Invesitgations Section
Lieutenant Randall Medeiros
Phone: 961-2252
September 27, 2007
Report No. C0701290

Media Release

Big Island police are investigating a house fire Wednesday (September 26) in the Hawaiian Beaches subdivision of lower Puna.

Puna patrol officers responded to Limu street around 1 p.m. after numerous nearby residents reported seeing smoke and flames coming from a vacant house there. A fire inspector who reported to the scene advised police that the origin of the fire was suspicious. 

Witnesses reported seeing a vehicle containing several male occupants in the area just before the home caught fire. They described one of the men as being a local male with a dark complexion, black hair and a round face, possibly in his 40s. Another occupant was described as local male with a dark complexion, short black hair, possibly in his 20s, about 5-foot-7, 150 pounds with a slim build. 

The vehicle was described as a faded gold or yellow older-model Ford Aerostar minivan with mirrored tint on the windows that appeared to be peeling off in certain areas. The van had a very loud exhaust system or possibly no muffler.

Investigators would like to identify and speak with these individuals.