Posted on: Wednesday, September 25, 2002

Big Island fugitive nabbed in police chase

By Hugh Clark
Advertiser Big Island Bureau

KEALAKEHE, Hawai'i — A South Kona fugitive wanted on four bench warrants was being held yesterday in lieu of $104,300 bail following his capture Monday evening in Captain Cook.

Details of the capture were incomplete but several officers, police vehicles and a helicopter were involved. Some of the officers were reported to have been injured in the chase.

Police said Gregory W. Andrade, 39, was in custody at the Kona police holding cell. Andrade faces eight counts of car theft, drug and property damage charges plus 11 counts for alleged offenses while he was being taken into custody.

Lt. Bradley Ballesteros said the suspect had been eluding officers for some time before they acted on a tip Monday evening.

The chase involved both uniformed and plain-clothes officers plus a helicopter provided by the Hawai'i County Fire Department.

Ballesteros said the suspect tried to flee on foot after abandoning his car. He was arrested after a struggle.

"Several officers were slightly injured in the incident," he said.