Prosecutors yesterday charged a Punchbowl man with attempted first-degree murder related to the ramming of a police car Tuesday on Kahekili Highway.

Kevin Wayne Anthony of a Lusitana Street address was also charged with criminal property damage. His bail is $40,000.

Anthony was arrested Tuesday on Kahekili Highway near Ha'iku Plantations Drive at 12:12 p.m. after he allegedly drove a stolen pickup truck directly at a marked police car that was about 160 feet away, striking it head-on. Anthony allegedly twice reversed his vehicle and struck the squad car two more times.

The 43-year-old officer inside was not seriously injured.

The auto theft charge is related to the stolen 2004 Toyota Tacoma that Anthony was driving.

The theft and unauthorized possession of confidential information charges stem from the reported break-in of a vehicle and property stolen from a 68-year-old man at 11:57 a.m. Tuesday at Kualoa Regional Park. Witnesses at the theft scene provided police with the description and license number of the man's getaway vehicle.

Windward District Crime Reduction Unit officers located Anthony in the truck on Kahekili Highway and were approaching to arrest him after he pulled over on the right shoulder of the highway. That's when the ramming happened.

According to Hawai'i Criminal Justice Data Center records, Anthony has 18 convictions that include felony unauthorized entry into a vehicle and promotion of dangerous drugs.

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