Officer fires at fleeing
kidnap suspect in pickup

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By Nelson Daranciang
ndaranciang@starbulletin.com

A police officer fired several shots at a pickup truck in Waikiki this morning driven by a man who police say kidnapped a prostitute then fled after the woman escaped.

Police said the officer began to follow the truck after he saw a known prostitute get into the truck near the corner of Kaiulani and Kuhio avenues about 1:45 a.m. The truck then ran a red light and started speeding, according to police. The woman began to fight with the driver to get out of the truck. She managed to take the vehicle out of gear and step on the brake, police said.

When the truck stopped police said the officer approached the driver and ordered him to show his hands. Police said the driver refused and began to reach for an object. At the same time the woman stepped out of the truck and told the officer that the driver had tried to kidnap her, police said.

The officer fired several shots at the driver as he fled mauka on Kapahulu Avenue, police said. Police were searching for the man, believed to be between 25 and 30 years old, and driving a green 2001 Mazda pickup.