Police Beat

Advertiser Staff and News Services

Driver held in trying to run down officers

Police are pursuing attempted murder charges against a 31-year-old man who they said tried to run down two undercover officers in a drug sting Tuesday night.

The incident occurred shortly before 7 p.m. in the Amana Street area, where officers had arranged to buy drugs from the suspect. When they moved to arrest him, police said, the suspect fled in his car and tried to run down one of them. The man then tried to back into the other officer.

The suspect caused several car accidents before he damaged the tire on his car and tried to run, police said. He was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and drug charges.

Arson suspected in parking lot blaze

A car in a basement parking lot of the Ohana Waikiki West caught fire at about 5:19 yesterday morning, and investigators were working to establish the cause.

Four cars were burned, but one, a Chevrolet van, had the most damage, said Honolulu Fire Department spokesman Capt. Richard Soo.

Eight sprinkler heads in the basement were activated, and engine and ladder companies from Waikiki were dispatched. Police investigators were called because the fire appeared to have been intentionally set, Soo said.

Total damage was estimated at $22,000, he said.

Woman given box containing grenade

A woman walking along the highway in Ma'ili Monday night called police after a group of juveniles gave her a box that contained a grenade.

Special services police were notified, and the grenade was removed from the box. Police said the device appeared to have its fuse intact. The grenade was turned over to the military.

The woman, 35, was walking along Farrington Highway at about 11:30 p.m. when the group approached her with the box and asked her to open it. When she saw the explosive, she put the box in a cloth bag and called police. No arrests have been made.

Man arrested after wife's car hit

A man was arrested Tuesday night after allegedly pursuing his estranged wife in rush-hour traffic on Nimitz Highway, rear-ending her car and trying to run her off the road.

Police said the woman, 43, reported leaving her office with a male co-worker and driving on the highway, near Kalihi Street. Her husband, 46, saw them and followed in his car, bumping them from behind and sideswiping them, police said.

He was arrested at his home at 10:45 p.m. Police are investigating first-degree criminal property damage charges in the case.