Soldier held in alleged dorm thefts

Soldier held in alleged dorm thefts

By Gene Park
gpark@starbulletin.com

An Army specialist about to be deployed to Iraq went into the University of Hawaii dormitories Sunday and allegedly pilfered panties and an iPod, police said.

Spc. Mark Heath, 20, was charged Monday night with first-degree burglary and unauthorized entry into a dwelling. He was arrested Sunday after he was caught in the Hale Aloha Lokelani dorms on Dole Street on the university’s Manoa campus.

According to court documents, at about 9 a.m. Sunday, Heath allegedly opened the door to a dorm room and stuck his head inside as he peered in. When he saw a male witness, Heath allegedly fled.

The witness ran after Heath and asked him why he was trying to get into his girlfriend’s room. Heath said he was looking for a male student in another room.

Heath was escorted to security. Police said officers who responded smelled alcohol on his breath. Heath was arrested on suspicion of unauthorized entry into the dorm.

When police patted Heath down, they found a 30- gigabyte iPod in his right pants pocket, the court documents say. Police also found women’s lingerie in his pockets.

A female student approached the officers later and said she was missing an iPod. The student confirmed the iPod and some of the lingerie belonged to her. Heath was arrested on suspicion of first-degree burglary.

Heath belongs to the 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division, which is based at Schofield Barracks and is preparing to deploy to Iraq next month.

Heath is being held in lieu of $100,000 bail and has no prior arrests.

Source: http://archives.starbulletin.com/2007/11/28/news/story05.html