Cops: Man Tosses Toddler Onto Busy Freeway

Honolulu Police Arrest 23-Year-Old After 2-Year-Old Boy Found Dead On Road

(AP)  The man in hospital scrubs threw the toddler like a doll from a pedestrian overpass to the freeway humming with traffic. The 2½-year-old boy fell 30 feet to the asphalt and was pronounced dead at the scene.

The horrifying incident Thursday on the highway cutting through the heart of the city shocked Honolulu residents, causing panicked parents to phone day care centers to check on their children.

Police arrested a 23-year-old man they say occasionally baby-sat the child after witnesses saw him throwing something, followed him and called authorities.

Kraig Hengst told The Honolulu Advertiser he was working in an apartment garage across the street from the overpass when he saw a man "toss the baby" at about 11:40 a.m.

"I saw the baby high in the air. I thought it was a doll at first," Hengst said. The man held the child in one arm and "tossed it into the air," he said.

One or two vehicles may have struck the boy, but it was unclear exactly what killed him, the newspaper reported.

A white sheet covered the body on the westbound lanes of the H-1 freeway, a major route through downtown that police temporarily closed. The scene was just blocks from the Capitol and the governor's mansion.

The man, who was wearing green hospital scrubs, was taken to the police station and then to a hospital, said police spokeswoman Michelle Yu. She didn't know whether he had a history of mental illness or a criminal record.

"That will be part of the investigation," Yu said.

The suspect screamed "Thank you for everything" to television crews as he was escorted to a cell block. While in a police car, he rocked back and forth in the back seat.

The Queen's Medical Center, the nearest facility with a mental health wing, declined to say whether the man was or had been a patient. But spokeswoman Rebecca Pollard said no patients were missing Thursday and none had been discharged in an unstable condition.

Johnnie Bruen told KITV that the man calmly walked away from the overpass after dropping the child. Bruen later chased the man up a hill among houses and low-rise apartment buildings near the freeway.

"He didn't say anything, he didn't scream; he looked like a normal person standing there smoking a cigarette, except that he had on a smock," Bruen said. "That's just a horrible sight that I seen down there, for any man to do that to a child."

There were no reports of a missing child, police Capt. Frank Fujii said. Officers were contacting day care centers and other area facilities to find out where the child came from.

Hedy Chun, director of a nearby preschool, Kamaaina Kids Honolulu, said 10 to 15 parents called to check on their children. All students were safe, she said, but her staff was shocked.

Gov. Linda Lingle, told of the incident shortly after it happened, called it a "real tragedy."

[lily1972]

what is wrong with this person? that was a child

[antizion]

You would have to be completely crazy to do something like that.

What if all crime were a function of poverty and insanity. It could explain the US.

[jetlizhan]

mental illness my butt - this creep had the devil in him. the ''mental illness'' cr@p is used just too much. people are EVIL (not all) and it''s getting worse and worse. that poor precious child.

[displeased]

what is wrong with this person? that was a child
Posted by lily1972

Another example of responsible parenting. Too many idi0ts are raising kids. And there''s nothing we can do about it until it''s too late.

[Krazcarl]

We really need to start concidering stringing these folks up in the town sguare like in the old days as an example to others this has turned epedemic. The death penalty in back rooms with no cameras or live video is why the death deanalty isn''t working it''s done in darkness. When there was public hanging peaple didn''t even have locks on thier doors you could walk about town with no fear, leaving a horse tied to a rail is the equivilent of leaving your car with the keys in the ignition and it was common practice people were safe we are not safe something HAS to be done I say public hanging I bet my my life savings that there will be a dramatic reduction in crime and we can be free again yes it''s barbaric but these criminals are barbaric and it''s the only thing that worked with the exception of firing sqads and quillitne{sp?} I vote hanging or give the condemed a choice.

[cheddarboy82]

wow, give him the death sentance now

[staycalm]

Equally shocking is the fact that no one has reported a child missing. With parents like that, God must have felt the child would have a better home in heaven. I pray that he is now in loving arms.

[toolmangler-2009]

What if all crime were a function of poverty and insanity. It could explain the US.
Posted by AntiZion at 10:43 AM : Jan 18, 2008



Here is the problem with the US, there is no blood test to eliminate people that think like you from coming in here.

[realtalk5950]

WELL HERE''S ANOTHER ONE. HE''LL BE SENTENCED TO DIE AND ROT ON DEATH ROW FOR 20 YEARS UNTIL HIS SENTENCED IS CARRIED OUT.

[aaabee-2009]

God must have felt the child would have a better home in heaven. Posted by staycalm at 11:12 AM : Jan 18, 2008

So this loving God of yours had a Wacko toss the child off a bridge?????? Effing shut up!

[aaabee-2009]

Posted by hodgepodge21 at 11:32 AM : Jan 18, 2008

Good post. Let the mentally ill stay ill, but pour millions into research on how to get people to buy, buy, buy!

Right on target, you.

[carterarce]

Horrible story but killing kids is a daily occurrence in Iraq. I wish people were as horrified at the thought of our war killing kids in Iraq on a daily basis.

[runningralph]

The amount of mental disease will go up in proportion to the amount of substance abuse. The amount of substance abuse will go up in proportion to liberalism. Substance abuse is not the only factor in mental disorder, but it is the largest aggravating factor.

[Krazcarl]

This was just one mean SOB or crackhead or both wasn''t his chow how he was raised or mental illness {when a crime like this occurs you have to run to the insanity defence his lawyer can''t walk up and say he''s mean and should die} read my earlier post we do have means to cure this epidemic. By the way if drugs were involved he took the drugs knowing what they do and that is no excuse.

[ladyephesus1]

Jesus, when are you coming back??

[closethippy1]

Thrown out of bridges, into oncoming traffic, burned in a house, it seems as if these losers are trying to outdo each other.

[toolmangler-2009]

Bridges are swiftly replacing gun as a means to murder or suicide, Lets ban bridges and any other ''high'' place like mountains from existance. Man I hope they never start using water to drown people,,,, whats that? they have? oh boy!!! we''re in deep yogurt now.

[klingon69]

Horrible story but killing kids is a daily occurrence in Iraq. I wish people were as horrified at the thought of our war killing kids in Iraq on a daily basis.
Posted by carterarce at 11:38 AM : Jan 18, 2008
Yes, Iraq is wrong, but right or wrong, lies or truth, it is a war. Children, elderly and women have always been killed as collateral damage during war.
This was a truly heinous crime. Too often people can get out of real punishment by using an insanity defense. Put this man on 24 hr a day surveillance, he may be deranged, or just an act.

[susieq_13]

I agree with ladyephesus1...when are you coming Jesus! This world just seems to get worse and worse by the day. Maybe I should just quit reading these horrible stories. I hope that man pays for what he did. RIP baby! You are in a much better place now.

[aaabee-2009]

I wish people were as horrified at the thought of our war killing kids in Iraq on a daily basis." Posted by carterarce at 11:38 AM : Jan 18, 2008

By "people" you mean those who are advocating the war, correct?

[realtalk5950]

RIP baby! You are in a much better place now.


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Posted by susieq_13 at 12:06 PM : Jan 18, 2008

THE CITY MORGUE??

[radiob-2009]

Disgusting absolutely 100% disgusting.

[erasmus6]

I don''t care what anyone says, I can turn on my news everyday and not hear of this kind of stuff. I come on here and it is almost a daily occurance.

You have someone trying to cook their baby, a kid hitting a baby with a baseball bat, someone throwing kids off a bridge into the water and now this. These are just the ones I can remember, there have been many more and these have all happened recently.

Is there something in your water?

[slim1h2o]

whats that? they have? oh boy!!! we''''re in deep yogurt now.

Posted by ToolMangler at 12:03 PM : Jan 18, 2008

Not to mention the quaqmire we''re in. R.I.P, little one.

[gheemaster38]

Let''s ut Gitmo to work on this guy.

[Krazcarl]

Lets be civilized and humam and look to the heaven and offer god a prayer for this child...Lord hold this child close let hin feel safty and love the child needs extra time and love...Amen

[radiob-2009]

Is there something in your water?


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Posted by erasmus6

Found a new cabinet position for you, water tester. Drink up and report right back.

[toolmangler-2009]

Is there something in your water?
Posted by erasmus6 at 12:13 PM : Jan 18, 2008



If there is, just remember our water comes from Canada. What are you putting in it?

[erasmus6]

"If there is, just remember our water comes from Canada. What are you putting in it?" posted by ToolMangler

:):):):):)

[random_radar]

"Let''''s ut Gitmo to work on this guy.

Posted by gheemaster38 at 12:19 PM : Jan 18, 2008"

You just coined a wonderful pop culture phrase. Too bad you are anonymous, you could have gotten your 15 minutes of fame!

[hawaiigirl58]

too bad hawaii doesnt have the death penalty. a lot of criminals can get away with their offense and be released from prision... this incident was the second murder case on oahu in less than 24 hours. the other one was a domestic case where this guy killed his ex girlfriend by hitting her with a rifle. what is this world coming to? a lot of people in hawaii are drug users... mainly ice. and i think that guy that killed the kid was high off of it. i feel bad for the mother because she didnt know about what happened till after she came home from somewhere. she was pissed. on the news they show her yelling at her husband about why he didnt take care of the child. sad though.

[rowdytexan2]

OMGGGGGGG! What is wrong with these crazy men that they have to kill children and unborn babies and mothers?

God bless this litte one!

[hawaiigirl58]

the guy had mental issues... his father said that his son was always saying that he could hear voices. on the news it said he was a normal child until his friend got killed in a car racing incident 5 years ago. he was racing with his friend and the friend got into an accident and died. ever since then, hes committed crimes and this was by far the worst one yet. hes not going to last in prison. prisoners in hawaii dont tolerate people that committ crimes against children (eg. rape/murder). if hes not in a maximum security cell, hes gonna get it from other prisoners. i hope he does cuz this guy doesnt deserve to live. hes f***in'' crazy!

[honestabe8]

there ya go, runningralph. take a tragedy and use it to make a cheap political slam. congrats.

[honestabe8]

ladyephesus: never, he is dead.

[michellem99-2009]

crzmeat ye right...They put them carmras every where thinking it will stop crime..Sorry Dear they don''t work to stop the crime. I have no idea if they are there or not. The carmra is their ticket to fame so they think. I like yer ideas they woked..The is no repsect of each other today. How many children are going to die cause of rage. senseless.

[darkfyreaol]

It''s times like this where people''s opinions don''t matter. I can just about guarantee nobody here saw this happen.

You can rant and rave and point political fingers at people, but it doesn''t change a thing:

The baby''s dead.

[rushman71]

They need to bring back the Bounty Hunter. "I''m the Dog. The big, bad Dog. The Bounty Hunter!!!"

[Netterz]

OFCOURSE he is mentally ill!!! Since the latest ruling that mentally ill people can not be punished or face the death penality, they must be protected and coddled. BULL $HIT! News flash... anyone who can commit such henious crimes, IS MENTALLY ILL. I dont see where there is any guess work on the part of any of these men as to if they are sane or not. But now that it is LAW that the mentally ill must be protected and spared, ALL who commit crime, will be deemed ''mentally ill''. At this rate, they will be back on the streets to kill again, within a week. Instead of doing what is ''for the greater good'' of Society, we will keep them all alive, and let them loose so they can continue to go about there murdering ways....Welcome to America, Land of the Mentally Ill Murders.

[Netterz]

"Things like lead, mercury, PCBs, asbestos, and a whole bunch of other substances proven to be detrimental to the brain here, haven''''t been proven yet over there.There''''s no standards overseas. Here? Huge amounts of research go into the consumer standards market. Too much for the rich fat cats.
Posted by hodgepodge21"
GOOD HEAVENS!!!!!!!!!!! I can not beleive I am even alive and here, if all these gov''t proven brain damaging things are so horible, how is it, that the children of these era, have invented some of the most life enhancing, world changing products, when we are so ''damaged''??? But thanks for pointing that out, how damaged we all are from this stuff...when I get my next speeding ticket, I may want use it as my defense, that I am mentally ill. I am sure every murderer, crack dealer, and every low life criminal is jumping on this excuse, can add this to the one about not being hugged enough, while chewing on my lead based crib,or poling the asbestos covered pipes or ceiling tiles with my pencil. :D

[jumkey]

Maybe we could put aside our blood thirsty cries of vengeance against what is clearly a severely disturbed person to find out what failed and how to fix it?

Why was he allowed to care for a child?
Was his illness ignored?
Could it have been prevented and if so how?

Simply "putting a bullet in his brain" solves nothing - the child is dead. And unfocused rage at the mentally ill person who committed the crime instead of trying to prevent this from happening in the future guarantees that it will happen again.

We should be outraged that apparently people care more about pandering to their own emotional needs than saving the life of an innocent child - which is what people are doing on this thread.

[azcagirl]

Bridges are swiftly replacing gun as a means to murder or suicide, Lets ban bridges and any other ''''high'''' place like mountains from existance. Man I hope they never start using water to drown people,,,, whats that? they have? oh boy!!! we''''re in deep yogurt now.


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Posted by ToolMangler at 12:03 PM : Jan 18, 2008

I just had to repost that, it is so funny and so true as well. Unfortunatley people are going to find was of commiting crimes no matter what tools are available for use.

[extremophil]

This man can''t be executed. It''s cruel and unusual punishment, don''tcha know???

[Krazcarl]

jumkey...this is a murdering child killer of the lowest caliber a sane mind will never comprehend an insane mind for you would have to be insane yourself he has a lifetime of playing the system and that''s all that will you offer a treat he''ll shake your hand but you will lern nothing of value research has been going on for many decades with no cure or plan to alieviate it. He''s a murdering child killer you don''t expect honesty at the local prison do you the easiest cheapest way to deal with this is dispatch him publicly so folks SEE what happens if you engage in this behavior. There is no vulcan mind probe doesen''t matter why all that matters is he did and lost his right to live amongst us and anyone else that engages in this behaviour the end result should be the same there is no way to treat criminals except how they treat us.

[Krazcarl]

One thing no one mentions if your smart enough to claim insanity your not insane if you can go sit in a courtroom for weeks or months and behave yourself your not insane if your truely insane your in a rubber room theres a big difference between being mentaly deficient and insane.

[barbjc1]

I agree with all of those that recommend a 50 cent bullet in the head. These people cannot be rehabilated. There is something wrong from the getgo with them. Psychologists and Psychiatrists start calling a spade a spade, you people and the "Bleeding Hearts" are the ones that are creating and bleeding the taxpayers by telling the justice and prison systems they can be rehabed.

[rohink-2009]

There is no death penalty here in the state of Hawaii.
Never has been. The state also has a major meth addiction problem along with a growing homeless population. So much for paradise.

[erasmus6]

"There is no death penalty here in the state of Hawaii.
Never has been. The state also has a major meth addiction problem along with a growing homeless population. So much for paradise." posted by rohink


What year did the U.S. take over Hawaii?:)

[barbaraf4]

There must be some equivalent, creative way to dispose of this monster. If they can''t execute him, then how about requiring that he hand build a designer casket for this child, and then dig his grave with his bare hands. Then, put him in jail and throw away the key.
~~~~~~~~~~~~
"What year did the U.S. take over Hawaii?:)"
Posted by erasmus6

You forgot to mention traffic!! I attended Chaminade and one of my English professors used to complain about how much everything changed after statehood.

[rohink-2009]

Ok, I get it. It''s the big bad United States of America''s fault.