Police Beat

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Teen allegedly rams police car

HILO, Hawai'i — A 17-year-old Keaukaha youth was arrested on six charges after allegedly ramming his car into a police cruiser responding to a report of several car break-ins early yesterday.

Police still are looking for an 18-year-old suspected accomplice, said detective Tom Poy.

The incident began around 2:30 a.m. when South Hilo patrol officers responded to a call at the Hale Moana apartment complex on Kalaniana'ole Avenue. When the two suspects spotted the officers, the 17-year-old driver allegedly rammed one of the police vehicles, knocking it into two parked vehicles, Poy said. The driver then tried to speed away but lost control of the car and hit a brick wall. Both suspects jumped out of the car and ran away.

The driver was arrested at 3:30 p.m. yesterday and charged with second-degree terroristic threatening, first-degree criminal property damage, auto theft and three misdemeanors.

Man sentenced for traffic death

WAILUKU, Maui — A Lahaina man was sentenced to 10 years in prison yesterday for killing a retired police detective who was directing traffic at a road construction site last year.

Bruce Mauvais, 57, had been drinking and was going almost 50 mph in a 25 mph zone when his pickup hit Antonio Funes, 54, of Wailuku, on Honoapi'ilani Highway near the North Kihei Road junction June 14.

Mauvais' blood-alcohol level was 0.18, more than twice the legal limit, prosecutors said. He originally was charged with manslaughter, but pleaded no contest to the lesser charge of first-degree negligent homicide.