Driver who hit officer might have targeted boyfriend, too
Advertiser Staff
A Wai'anae woman charged with attempted first-degree murder for allegedly running over the foot and ankle of a police officer last week had earlier been chasing down her boyfriend in a Chevy pickup truck, according to a police affidavit filed in the case.
Norina O. Rzonca, 33, made her initial appearance in District Court yesterday. Her preliminary hearing is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. tomorrow.
About 8:20 Friday morning, Rzonca was arguing with her boyfriend at Rzonca's home on Pukui Place, the affidavit said. The man left the home and began walking down Lualualei Homestead Road.
As he approached Ihuku Street, according to the affidavit, he could hear Rzonca's pickup truck coming at him from behind "at a high rate of speed and heading directly toward him."
The truck came within eight to 10 feet of the man, who had to jump onto a wall to avoid being hit, the affidavit said.
The man saw a police cruiser and flagged down Officer Ming Wang, who used his car's loudspeaker to order Rzonca to stop and pull over, the affidavit said.
As Rzonca made a U-turn, Wang got out of his car but Rzonca ignored his directions to stop, the affidavit said.
Rzonca's truck "appeared to be picking up speed as it came directly toward him" the affidavit said. The truck's left front wheel hit Wang's left leg, "causing extreme pain to the area around his ankle," the affidavit said.
"That upon realizing that he was being run over and fearing for his life, Officer Wang drew his issued pistol as he was falling backward and fired one round toward the direction of ... Rzonca," the affidavit said.
As Wang lay in the middle of the road, Rzonca sped away north-bound on Lualualei Homestead Road, the affidavit said.
Wang was taken to The Queen's Medical Center where he was treated for abrasions and bruises from his left ankle to his left thigh and then released.
The blue pickup truck was spotted less than an hour later in front of Rzonca's home. About the same time, according to the affidavit, Rzonca walked into the Wai'anae police substation and said that "she is the person who ran over the officer with her truck."
