Despite arrests earlier this week of two men suspected of South Shore burglaries, resort administrators in Po‘ipu remain concerned, as two hotel security officers were attacked early yesterday morning. The assaults happened shortly after 1 a.m. Thursday at the Point
Despite arrests earlier this week of two men suspected of South Shore burglaries, resort administrators in Po‘ipu remain concerned, as two hotel security officers were attacked early yesterday morning.
The assaults happened shortly after 1 a.m. Thursday at the Point at Po‘ipu, said Doug Sears, general manager for the Grand Hyatt and member of the Po‘ipu Beach Resort Association. The Point at Po‘ipu General Manager George Costa declined to comment.
One of the security officers was hit over the head with a flashlight and the second was knocked unconscious by what he described to hotel security dispatch felt like a bat, Sears said.
The security officer who was assaulted first was dragged by his attackers, however, he managed to escape. The second-assaulted security officer was found unconscious by colleagues after he didn’t respond to dispatch calls, Sears said.
The two victims of the assaults are not the Point at Po‘ipu employees, but are contract hires from a local security company.
The attacks came just days after police arrested two suspects on burglary charges, a “break” in the recent rash of theft cases that have plagued the South Shore area, Assistant Chief Roy Asher said.
Police arrested David Victorino Jr., 45, of Kapa‘a, on Tuesday, on trespassing and first-degree burglary charges in Po‘ipu. Police are not yet releasing the name of the second suspect, Asher said.
No arrests have been made in relation to the assaults on the security officers; however, Asher said, police are working on the case.
“We do have a report that an assault occurred on the South Shore and believe that it could be linked to the burglary cases,” he said, noting the case is under investigation.
In the meantime, security officers in Po‘ipu will continue to rely on neighboring resorts working with each other to keep the area safe, Sears said.
“It was the sharing of information that allowed us to (identify) the individuals on the first evening who possibly committed the burglaries.
“…We’re going to need to keep assisting in identifying suspicious circumstances,” he said.
• Amanda C. Gregg, assistant editor/staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 252) or agregg@kauaipubco.com.
