Posted on: Tuesday, November 9, 2004

Escapee arrested at federal building

By Curtis Lum
Advertiser Staff Writer

A man who was wanted for escape and parole violation was captured yesterday after he crashed his car at the federal building and broke a door there.

Kristopher Kealoha, 28, was subdued by security officers at the federal building and turned over to Honolulu police at about 11 a.m. He was being held last night in a police cellblock pending charges that include escape, parole revocation, theft and criminal property damage.

Kealoha, also known as Eric Pawai, had been on the run since Nov. 2 when he climbed out of a police car window while he was being taken to the main police station on South Beretania Street. Police had arrested him earlier that day near the Kina'u Street off-ramp on the H-1 Freeway on a parole revocation warrant.

Yesterday, Kealoha went to the Prince Kuhio Federal Building where he asked for directions to the FBI office, police said. He was told where the office was, but was informed that he could not park at the federal building for security purposes.

Police said Kealoha disregarded the information and rammed his car into a security barricade at the entrance to the building's parking lot. Police said he then got out of his car and kicked in a glass door in the building.

Federal security officers subdued Kealoha and notified police. Responding officers recognized Kealoha and arrested him.

Police said Kealoha was treated for minor injuries at an area hospital before he was taken to the police station.

This is the second time that Kealoha is faced with escape charges. On Aug. 10, 2002, he escaped from the minimum-security Waiawa Correctional Facility, where he was serving a sentence for first-degree terroristic threatening, auto theft and second-degree robbery. Kealoha was arrested a week later when police were sent to a burglary in progress at a Waipahu Street apartment complex.

In another case, police are asking for the public's help in locating James Guerrero.

Guerrero, 42, has convictions for harassment and violating protective orders, may be armed and should be considered dangerous, police said. Guerrero is 5 feet 11, 175 pounds, with salt-and-pepper brown and red hair, brown eyes, a thick mustache and beard. He also has "Kris" tattooed across his heart and "Mom" on his left bicep. Police said he may be driving a 1990 white four-door Toyota.

Call CrimeStoppers at 955-8300 or *CRIME on a cellular phone.

Reach Curtis Lum at 525-8025 or culum@honoluluadvertiser.com.