Driver is arrested in
alleged vehicle attack
on police officer

Police arrested a 23-year-old man yesterday after he allegedly rammed a patrol car three times while an officer was still behind the wheel.

The officer, 27, is assigned to the Waikiki substation and has been on the force for a little more than a year, police said. He was taken to the hospital with minor injuries and released later in the day, Honolulu Police Capt. Frank Fujii said.

The suspect was also taken to the hospital as a precaution and later released into police custody.

Police said the incident happened about 7:50 a.m. in Waikiki and started after the officer cited a white Lexus that was parked the wrong way in front of a driveway on one-way Kapuni Street.

The officer then saw the suspect get into the vehicle and drive off, police said.

Minutes later the officer heard a crash on nearby Nohonani Street and rushed to the scene of an accident, which involved the same Lexus, police said.

That was when the suspect reversed three times into the officer's patrol car, Fujii said.

The suspect then tried to escape and struck a second vehicle and a soda machine at the Holiday Surf Apartment-Hotel at the corner of Ala Wai Boulevard and Nohonani Street.

Police said the suspect sped onto Ala Wai Boulevard, traveled a short distance, then pulled over, jumped out of the car and ran away.

To avoid officers, the suspect jumped into the Ala Wai Canal and started swimming away, but came back a couple of minutes later, police said.

The suspect has five misdemeanor convictions and four petty misdemeanor convictions, Fujii said.

He also said the man appeared to be under the "influence of an intoxicant."

Police arrested the suspect for investigation of first-degree attempted murder of a police officer, driving under the influence of an intoxicant and reckless driving.