BARRY MARKOWITZ / SPECIAL TO THE STAR-BULLETIN A Honolulu police officer brought a suspect from Malaekahana Beach to a marked HPD vehicle yesterday after he was apprehended on the beach with the help of young Kahuku residents Pono Pau, 16, and Albert Ramos, 19.

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Shots ring out in
North Shore chase

A pursuing officer fires at
a car when the driver allegedly
attempts to run her over

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CORRECTION Thursday, August 19, 2004 A Honolulu police officer who fired shots at a stolen car Tuesday on the North Shore was a man. A story and headline on Page A1 in yesterday's early edition incorrectly indicated the officer was a woman. The Honolulu Star-Bulletin strives to make its news report fair and accurate. If you have a question or comment about news coverage, call Editor Frank Bridgewater at 529-4791 or email him at corrections@starbulletin.com.

Honolulu police arrested a 21-year-old man for allegedly attempting to run over an officer in Kahuku yesterday afternoon.

The officer fired four shots at the suspect as he accelerated toward her but did not hit him, police said. She did hit the allegedly stolen car he was driving, however.

The shots were fired on Kamehameha Highway near the Turtle Bay Resort at 1:21 p.m., police said.

"An officer evidently fired at least four shots that we are aware of at this time," said acting Police Chief Glen Kajiyama. "The officer ... gave initial chase, the vehicle eluded (her).

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BARRY MARKOWITZ / SPECIAL TO THE STAR-BULLETIN A stolen car bears at least two bullet holes after an officer tried to stop the vehicle from fleeing.

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"The officer then found the vehicle again and approached the vehicle ... the vehicle then attempted to run (her) over and the vehicle fled."

The suspect later ditched the car along Leleuli Street in Kahuku and approached a group of young men, whom he asked for a ride, according to witnesses.

"Me and a bunch of my friends was parked outside one of my cousins' houses installing a car stereo," said Pono Pau, a 16-year-old Kahuku High School student. "He passed by and then turned around and walked back to us and asked us for a ride to Papakolea."

Pau and 19-year-old Albert Ramos said the suspect offered the friends money for a ride, and then later admitted that he was on the run from police.

"He told us that him and his friends just got busted because they were in a hot car," said Ramos. "We told him to catch the bus."

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BARRY MARKOWITZ / SPECIAL TO THE STAR-BULLETIN Albert Ramos, 19, on the phone, and Pono Pau, 16, a Kahuku High School student, shared their story over the phone yesterday after they were confronted by a suspect on the run from police. They reported the situation to police, which led to the suspect's arrest near Malaekahana Beach.

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Ramos said his group watched the man walk away and notified police after they saw the police helicopter in the air and officers on the ground searching the area.

Ramos said the man had multiple tattoos: one of a shark on his right shoulder, a spider web on his left elbow, and another tattoo written in old English lettering running from shoulder to shoulder.

"He didn't have his shirt on and he was running, sweating ... he looked paranoid," Ramos said. "After I told officers that I seen that guy, they said they saw a guy matching that description walking down the highway."

"The found 'em and brought us there to ID him."

Police arrested the suspect at 3:05 p.m. at 56-155 Kamehameha Highway near Malaekahana Beach for suspicion of attempted murder and auto theft.

Police opened a routine internal investigation because an officer fired shots.

Usually, officers who fire their weapon are placed on paid administrative leave pending an investigation.

However, police officials last night said they could not confirm whether the officer who fired the shots was placed on leave.

Police said the car was stolen vehicle from Kinau Street yesterday morning.

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Honolulu Police Department Crimestoppers