AN OVERWHELMING SHOW OF FORCE...

CURTAILED THE PROBLEM

Rumors wer going around last night that there was going to be a major fight at the "Triangle". After I had heard it from 3 separate sources I called MPD and gave them a "heads-up". Supposedly, one of the individuals involved in the melee last Thursday was seeking retribution and 40 Tongans from O'ahu had arrived to provide the muscle. The grapevine said the trouble would start sometime after 1:00 AM.

MPD brought in officers from other police districts on the island and had about 20 officers stationed at the "Triangle", at FoodLand and patrolling the perimeter. The show of force did waylay the plans of the antagonists. Every minor infraction or disturbance was pounced on by the officers. Naturally, there were those few idiots who decided they wanted to fight, anybody, and either failed to see all the uniforms surrounding them or didn't care. The typical fighting "posture" is to step out of the bar and immediately rip off your t-shirt. One idiot did this and before his shirt hit the pavement he was in handcuffs and being escorted to the impromptu "command center" that the police had at FoodLand. The cops were ready for any contingency. Fortunately, their presence did defuse the situation.

Talked to some of the bartenders after bar-close and each told me that they had noticed a large number of Tongans on the property. People they had never seen before. Its a small island and strangers do stand out.

In one respect, I guess I "cried wolf" but I think that if I hadn't passed on the intelligence there would have been major problems, beyond what the 6 or 7 cops in Kihei could have handled alone. I'd rather err on the side of caution.

9 fares / 77 miles / 4th quarter below $100 bracket

Yessirree, it was another slow night. 5 cabs working the ghost town. We did get active at bar-close when people realized that trouble was brewing and skedaddled for "home".

I'll be back tomorrow. See you then.

Mahalo

Aloha

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THE PICTURE GALLERY

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Over The Limit?
UNDER ARREST!
Please don't drink and drive

"Let's all be careful out there!"