Kalaheo fire case dismissed

A man arrested last week in connection with a house fire in Kalaheo has been released and the case dismissed.

Todd T. Ozaki, 25, of Papalina Road in Kalaheo, was released without charges on Friday after Circuit Court Judge Matsunaga decided in a preliminary hearing that there was not enough evidence to hold Ozaki any longer.

The house, located at 4571 Opu Road in Kalaheo, caught fire the morning of July 5. Police arrested Ozaki in an arson investigation because they initially believed he may have been involved in setting the fire.

Police reports stated that Ozaki once lived in the house with his girlfriend at the time, who was reportedly breaking up with him.

Edmund Acoba, Ozaki’s appointed public defender, noted that it is unusual for the judge to release a person for lack of evidence.

In previous police reports, fire department officials agreed that the fire was suspicious and that gasoline may have been used to accelerate the fire.

Though police found a gas can in Ozaki’s truck that matched the description of one missing from the house, there was no link proven that would show how the fire got started, Acoba said.

It was because of the breakup with his girlfriend that Ozaki was arrested in connection with the fire, Acoba said.

“The timing was off,” Aboba said. Fire Department reports state the call was reported at 8:42 a.m. However, Todd’s uncle said that at about 8:30 a.m. they were at the house having a conversation and Todd fell asleep on their couch after being out partying the night before, Acoba said.

Eyewitness reports confirmed that Ozaki was not seen on the property that day, Acoba said.

County prosecuting attorney Craig De Costa said that he will review police reports and the videotape from last week’s preliminary hearing to decide whether the case will be considered by a grand jury.

Staff Writer Kendyce Manguchei can be reached at kmanguchei@pulitzer.net or 245-3681 (ext. 252).