In a post here on Friday, I reported testimony by a used car dealer who described being beaten in a run-in with Mike Miske and two associates in 2015.
A regular reader, who writes as “Michael Formerly of Waikiki,” commented on the post.
March 10, 2024 at 5:23 am
What did the police do after responding?
I’m sure they filed a report. Did Chergui identify Miske as one of the assailants who assaulted him?
If so, did the police follow up and look for Miske and arrest him or at least ask him where he was when the assault take place?
Good questions.
The dealer who was the victim of this beating spoke about the follow-up when he testified before a federal grand jury in September 2018. He commented on the lack of action by police and prosecutors.
The following section appears in several pages of his grand jury testimony that were admitted into evidence in the Miskek trial.
Q. …did HPD ever prosecute, or did the City and County ever prosecute this assault?
A. No. They procrastinated on the process. I made the police report, I pointed to the person where he lives and everything, and they did nothing about it.
Q. Okay.
A. I had to call the Attorney General and, two days later, I get the detective calling me about the matter.
Q. Okay. Did the Attorney General ever bring charges to your knowledge?
A. No.
Q. Okay. So you mentioned that after you made a police report, you got a call. Who did you get a call from?
A. Apologize. I was at the parking lot at the police station —
Q. okay.
A. — and I made the report. On my way back — on my way out, I get the phone call.
Q. Is this on your cell phone?
A. On my cell, yes.
Q. And who did you geting the phone call from?
A.. From Mr. Michael.
e. Okay. And what did he tell you during the phone call?
A. When I’m going to get my — his money and, you remember, every other word is vulgar language so I don’t want to say every bad language he said so…
Q. Did he say he was going to fuck you up?
A. Give me the money, and I said I’m at the police station now. I’m making a report. And he said I’m going to come to you, and I’m going to “F” you up again at your house with your family.
Went back to the police station, and I said he just called me again making threats. Can I make a report on it? And they wouldn’t make a report again. He said you already make a report.
I’m from a different jurisdiction. If somebody call making a threat, they will send 20 police cars.
I realize here in the State of Hawaii, you get beat up and you say here’s the guy who did it, here’s my blood, here’s my tooth, and the cops do nothing about it.
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Unconscionable!
I find it worth noting that HPD’s disinterested, and near non-response occurred in 2015, when Louis Kealoha was Police Chief and Keith Kaneshiro was City Prosecutor. (In December of 2016 Kealoha would be placed on leave.)
Was the “lack of action by police and prosecutors” an example of a poorly run and managed police department and prosecutors office that simply didn’t have the time, resources and willingness to diligently pursue every crime reported, or was Miske on the receiving end of some special treatment?
What a bombshell it would be if some cops and prosecutors came forward with evidence they were given orders, directives, or subtle hints to stand down and look the other way when it came to Miske.
Very, very sad.
I don’t think his experience with the police is that uncommon. If the Feds hadn’t taken action, none of this vast criminal activity would have come to light!
@Paul Gabriel: I agree with you. Honolulu has always been a tough town and city.
I once observed an assault victim in Waikiki asked by cops “well, why did you mess with him?”
But your comment implies that there is more crime in Honolulu than being reported.
How did Mr. Michael know to call when he called? Divine intervention, or is someone leaking info in the Dept
This aligns with your thoughts around the local media not covering the story as close as they should. With this line of questioning in the trial any of the local news organizations should have asked the police department why there was no follow-up or arrest.
Had HPD taken action on any of these things Miske probably would not have been brazen enough to murder Johnny Fraser.