A Puna woman charged last night by Hawai'i County authorities with allegedly driving a car at police officers to avoid arrest has an initial appearance scheduled tomorrow at District Court in South Hilo.

Rina Lee Yaeko Shimizu, 27, was charged with first-degree assault on a police officer, second-degree reckless endangering, two counts of third-degree promoting of a dangerous drug, and two counts of prohibited acts relating to drug paraphernalia. She is being held at the Hilo police cellblock in lieu of $10,500.

Police said Shimizu and another woman, 30, were in a car at the intersection of Kahakai Boulevard and Moano Street in Hawaiian Beaches Thursday at 7:25 p.m. that police vice officers were seeking to search with a warrant. As officers approached, the driver accelerated and drove toward an officer. Police shot at the car which fled and was later found abandoned.

Shimizu was arrested nearby. The second woman was arrested at 10:20 a.m. Friday for promoting a dangerous drug and later released pending further investigation.

Shimizu's criminal record includes 11 convictions.