Posted on: Friday, May 17, 2002

Attempted prison escape in stolen van ends in pit

By Brandon Masuoka
Advertiser Staff Writer

Police captured a 40-year-old inmate who they said stole a food-service van inside the O'ahu Community Correctional Center yesterday and tried to ram his way to freedom while his 19-year-old accomplice diverted attention by attacking a cook.

The driver, Kenneth Kaleikini, crashed through one gate but never made it out of the perimeter fence to Pu'uhale Road, said OCCC Deputy Warden Francis Sequeira.

The attempted jailbreak started at 3:10 p.m. and involved Kaleikini and another inmate, David Scribner, 19, who were working in the jail's food-service area.

A guard saw Scribner attack the cook and called for backup, then saw Kaleikini climb into the van and drive off, Sequeira said. The keys were inside the van, he said.

The van got stuck in the pit area of the sally port before the perimeter fence. Had Kaleikini driven through the last fence, guards would have fired their guns, Sequeira said.

Kaleikini had been held at OCCC for about a month because of a probation violation and charges of theft and terroristic threatening, Sequeira said.

Scribner, who lived at Schofield Barracks, was awaiting trial on drug charges, and had been at OCCC for about a month, Sequeira said.

Scribner faces assault and kidnapping offenses; Kaleikini faces criminal property damage and auto theft, Sequeira said. The two were returned to OCCC.

Sequeira said yesterday's security measures were strong enough, but added that officials planned to secure the van keys until all inmates are put away.