Updated at 9 a.m. Wednesday, May 16, 2001

Police find State Hospital escapee in Kahala

By Brandon Masuoka
Advertiser Staff Writer

Lenoard Moore, a State Hospital escapee suspected in several Kahala burglaries, crouches down in a police car today after his capture. Richard Ambo • The Honolulu Advertiser

After a month-long manhunt, police chased down a Hawaii State Hospital escapee today in Kahala and returned him to the same facility where he busted out twice in less than two weeks.

Police surrounded Leonard Moore, 35, after he was seen prowling in an Amau Street yard just before 3:33 a.m., said Honolulu Police Department Lt. Carlton Nishimura.

The unarmed Moore fled through several yards before police ran him down and apprehended him after a short struggle, Nishimura said.

"We're happy for the community," Nishimura said. "The fear factor was kind of gripping the Kahala community."

Moore was arrested on suspicion of second-degree escape and second-degree trespassing at 3:56 a.m. and then hand-delivered to the state hospital in Kaneohe where he escaped twice after heaving a table through a window on March 28, and then again when he tossed a television through a window on April 7.

News of Moore's capture spread through the Kahala community today and residents — including one Amau Street resident who said he was afraid to take out the rubbish last night — expressed their gratitude toward the police.

"Police did a good job," said Kolohala Street resident Bob Stauffer. "I talked to them yesterday. I told them, 'keep going, go get the guy.'"

Moore suffered scratches during the incident and refused medical treatment at the Queen's Medical Center, Nishimura said.

Police believe Moore hid inside a vacant Puulani Place house to elude the SWAT team, solo bike officers and a helicopter just a day before. Inside the house, police found a stolen camera and evidence that a person was living inside, police said.

"This guy's a runner and he's fast," Nishimura said. "This guy is smart. He eluded us. Just because he's an escapee from the state hospital doesn't mean he can't think and comprehend. He's a very calculating person."

According to police, on Saturday, a police officer fired two shots at Moore after he crashed a stolen car in Kahala and emerged out of the darkness carrying what later was determined to be a hammer. The bullets missed and hit a wall. No one was injured.

Police said they are investigating whether Moore was involved in other break-ins and thefts in the Kahala area.

Moore was arrested earlier on suspicion of car theft and committed to the hospital March 20 to determine if he was fit for trial.