The “coconut wireless” has been working overtime lately, as rumors continue to fly about a North Shore murder/rape case and a convicted sex offender arrested at a local elementary school. Although the stories have found their way onto Facebook accounts
The “coconut wireless” has been working overtime lately, as rumors continue to fly about a North Shore murder/rape case and a convicted sex offender arrested at a local elementary school.
Although the stories have found their way onto Facebook accounts and have been reported repeatedly to The Garden Island and Kaua‘i law enforcement, police say neither is true.
There is “Definitely no ‘killing’ or ‘rapist on the loose’ — but it looks like there’s been a mixture of a couple of different incidents that have evolved into one big rumor,” said county spokeswoman Sarah Blane. “One of course being the body found in Hanalei, in which no foul play is suspected.”
A sexual assault case was reported within the same period that a researcher discovered the body of a man in the Hanalei Wildlife Refuge, however no homicide or any other assault has been reported. Blane added that the sexual assault is being investigated. It was reported on the evening of March 15 from Weke Road in Hanalei, according to the KPD daily incident log.
Foul play is not suspected in regard to the body of the unidentified man, found March 14.
Another rumor started about a possible convicted sex offender arrested at a Kaua‘i school. Rather than allow the spread of misinformation, Chief Darryl Perry released an email on Wednesday to staff and to Bill Arakaki, complex superintendent of Kaua‘i schools, regarding the erroneous tale.
“While the arrest of an adult is true, our checks revealed that this person is not a convicted sex offender, nor is he listed with State of Hawai‘i and National Sex Registry,” Perry wrote. “We are continuing to look into this matter because our main objective is to protect the public and our children, yet we certainly do not want to falsely accuse a person or continue to fan the flames of fear, which as you know have happened in the recent past.”
Information about the man’s actual charges were unavailable at press time.
Arakaki said he wasn’t aware of the rumor until he received Perry’s email.
• Jessica Musicar, staff writer, can be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 224) or by e-mailing jmusicar@ thegardenisland.com.
