Posted on: Wednesday, January 8, 2003

Driver sought for trying to run over police officer

By Scott Ishikawa
Advertiser Staff Writer

Police are looking for the driver of a Mercedes suspected of ramming a police car and then trying to run over an officer Saturday in Waikiki.

At 1:45 p.m., police saw a silver Mercedes-Benz sedan make an illegal turn and drive in the wrong direction on Ka'iulani Avenue. An officer followed the car until it stopped in front of 2423 Cleghorn St., where the officer approached the driver.

The driver sped in reverse and hit a second marked police vehicle at Cleghorn and Kapili streets, police said.

The passenger in the suspect's vehicle dove out the passenger window after the Mercedes hit the police car. The driver was ordered to stop but drove toward the officer instead, forcing him to dive to the side of the road to avoid being hit.

The suspect vehicle is a late-model silver or gray Mercedes Benz four-door sedan. The car has a sun roof, black leather seats, wood trim interior and a Hawai'i plate.

The car suffered damage to its right rear tail light and bumper. Repair shops are asked to be on the lookout for such a car.

Call Detective Larry Lawson at 529-3088 or CrimeStoppers at 955-8300 or by dialing *CRIME on a cellular telephone.