Posted on: Tuesday, August 6, 2002

Manhunt on after suspect steals officer's SUV

By Curtis Lum
Advertiser Staff Writer

Police last night were searching for a man who attempted to run over a police officer and then stole the officer's vehicle in Whitmore Village.

The officer fired several shots at the fleeing suspect.

The officer was taken to the Queen's Medical Center for back pains, but he was not seriously injured, and he was treated and released.

Police homicide detective Bill Kato said the incident began at about 6 p.m. when the officer stopped a car for a traffic violation at Whitmore Avenue near Uakanikoo Street.

The officer checked on the car and learned that it was stolen.

He ordered the driver to get out of the vehicle. The man did get out of the car, but — after the officer informed him that he was being arrested for auto theft — jumped back into the car, hit the accelerator and took off, striking the police officer.

The suspect drove into a dead end street and hit a wall, Kato said. The car was stuck on the wall. The man got out and ran.

The injured officer gave pursuit on foot, and they ran past several houses in the neighborhood.

The injured officer could not overtake the man, who ran back and got into the officer's Dodge Durango SUV and drove it at the officer.

The officer fired two or three shots at the vehicle, Kato said, but the man escaped. Residents saw him racing away with the vehicle's blue light flashing.

A short time later, police converged on the Kunia Terrace apartment complex at 94-049 Waipahu St. in Waipahu where the SUV was found abandoned at about 6:30 p.m.

Police said several residents saw the man walking away from the vehicle. He was described only as being young and thin.

Police were knocking on doors in the area late last night asking if anyone had seen the suspect.

The left rear window of the Durango was shot out. Police said they had no indication that the suspect had been hit by any shots.

The suspect remained at large late last night, and police had not released any further information.

EMS personnel said that the police officer was picked up at 6:15 p.m. at Whitmore Village and taken to The Queen's Medical Center.