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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted on: Friday, June 2, 2006

Bowlers help police catch suspect

By Peter Boylan
Advertiser Staff Writer

Leeward Bowl employee James, who didn't want to give his last name, opened the back door of the bowling alley for police chasing a suspect, who was arrested. A man in the parking lot of Gold Coin restaurant in Waipahu was robbed and shot at earlier yesterday.

DEBORAH BOOKER | The Honolulu Advertiser

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A man led police on a chase through Leeward O'ahu yesterday, after a robbery and shooting in the parking lot of a Waipahu restaurant, police said.

At 12:35 p.m., a gunman robbed a man in the parking lot of the Golden Coin restaurant on Puko Street, police said. After the robbery, the gunman allegedly fired two shots at the victim, missing both times.

The robber then jumped into a getaway car, which sped off.

The car was stolen, and the driver and robber split up while still in Waipahu and took off in separate vehicles, police said.

Police are trying to determine whether the man they arrested was the getaway driver or the shooter.

At 1:15 p.m., officers spotted the man driving on Paiwa Street and tried to pull him over, but he sped off, police said. After evading police, he entered the H-1 Freeway in the wrong direction and headed east in the westbound lanes, forcing cars to pull over or swerve out of the way, police said.

The man exited the freeway at Kamehameha Highway near Sam's Club in Pearl City and then sped toward Aloha Stadium.

The man was driving recklessly but managed not to hit anything or anyone, police said.

In front of Neal S. Blaisdell Park, the man made a U-turn against the light and headed 'ewa, police said, while the department's helicopter followed him.

It is the Honolulu Police Department's policy not to engage in high-speed chases, police said.

The man pulled off Kamehameha Highway and turned into the Pearl City Shopping Center, where he ditched his car and ran into Leeward Bowl.

Officers rushed into the bowling alley, where bowlers helped them subdued the man, police said.

The man was taken to a hospital for injuries, police said. The man's injuries weren't disclosed, but police said he was in good condition.

He was arrested on suspicion of reckless driving, and police are gathering evidence to hold the man in connection with the robbery, police said.

Reach Peter Boylan at pboylan@honoluluadvertiser.com.