Posted on: Monday, June 18, 2001

Fight erupts over the wrong theft

Advertiser Staff

Two men were arrested in Wai'anae, and one faces charges of attempted murder in a case of mistaken identity.

It started over a mo-ped.

Police said a 27-year-old man was driving his pickup truck in the parking lot of the Wai'anae Mall about 12:30 p.m. yesterday when he spotted a 42-year-old man riding what he believed to be his own missing mo-ped. He confronted the rider, demanding its return.

The mo-ped rider tried to punch the truck driver, then smashed the driver's-side window with a broomstick, police said.

The truck driver then tried to run over the mo-ped rider, who fled on foot.

Police arrested the truck driver for attempted murder.

They also arrested the mo-ped rider for theft: His vehicle had been stolen, but not from the truck driver.