Kidnapper's truck found

By Curtis Lum
Advertiser Staff Writer

Police yesterday recovered the truck of a man who kidnapped a woman and was shot at as he fled from a police officer in Waikiki. The man, however, remained at large last night.

The green pickup was found in the Iwilei Kmart parking lot shortly after 1 p.m. yesterday. Police had pursued the truck as the driver fled Waikiki early yesterday morning, but lost track of the man in Pearl City.

Police homicide Detective Bill Kato said there were two bullet holes in the truck, but no trace of blood. Kato said the officer fired at least three shots at the fleeing driver.

The incident began at 1:43 a.m. yesterday when a 26-year-old woman, identified as a prostitute, was picked up near the intersection of Ka'iulani and Kuhio avenues. Kato said the woman told the driver to make a turn and take her to a location on Ka'iulani, but the man refused.

After the man ran a red light and was picking up speed, the woman yelled at him to let her out of the truck, Kato said. They struggled in the speeding truck.

A patrol officer saw the struggle and gave chase. Police said the woman managed to take the truck out of gear and step on the brake, bringing it to a stop at Kapahulu and Kuhio avenues.

As the officer approached the truck, the woman shouted that the driver had a gun. Kato said the officer drew his weapon and ordered the man out of the truck.

A second officer arrived at the scene and got the woman out of the truck as the other officer struggled with the driver. Kato said the man reached for something behind his back, and at that moment the officer stepped back and fired a shot, striking the truck.

No one was injured.

Kato said officers spoke with the man's family, who said they last saw him late Sunday night in the truck. He said the officer and the woman gave conflicting descriptions of the suspect.

Staff writer Brandon Masuoka contributed to this report.