Suspect held on kidnap charges

Advertiser Staff

A 39-year-old man was arrested Thursday night on suspicion of kidnapping two people at gunpoint in Wai'anae and being a felon in possession of a firearm.

The alleged kidnapping of a 33-year-old Wai'anae man and Nanakuli woman, 27, in Ma'ili was reported to police at 10:05 p.m. by a witness, who said the couple were forced into a red Dodge van by a gunman. The gunman fired two shots in the air before ordering the victims into the van, police said.

Police found the van, victims and suspected gunman at about 10:15 in the parking lot of the Wai'anae Mall shopping center. The male kidnap victim was struggling with two other men, police said. The suspect was booked on two counts of kidnapping, reckless endangering, three firearm offenses and unauthorized entry into a vehicle.

Two other men, ages 36 and 34, who were involved in the physical confrontation with the kidnap victim, were arrested on suspicion of trying to prevent police from making an arrest. Both were booked on charges of hindering prosecution.