Police say suspect After searching for two nights with no success, police are asking for public help to find Ronald Lewis Medeiros, a 35-year-old convicted felon suspected of stealing a police officer's sport utility vehicle and trying to run over the officer Monday night in Whitmore Village.
could be in Waipahu
Police seek help in finding
a felon deemed dangerousBy Leila Fujimori
lfujimori@starbulletin.com
Medeiros, who may have been injured when the officer fired a gun at him, is considered dangerous and should not be approached, police Lt. Bill Kato said. Witnesses reported seeing a man in handcuffs and limping as he fled.
Police are stumped in their search for Medeiros after exhausting all possible leads.
"It's not like a normal hunt," Kato said. "He (the suspect) just doesn't seem like he has a lot of friends or family to run to."
Kato said there is a good chance Medeiros is in Waipahu because that is where he abandoned the officer's vehicle. Medeiros may have lived in downtown Honolulu and may frequent the Pearl City area.
Medeiros is 5 feet 8, 140 to 160 pounds, with a thin build, short black hair and a tattoo of a Playboy bunny on his upper left arm.
Anyone with information is asked to call Detective James Anderson at 529-3115. Anonymous calls can be made to CrimeStoppers at 955-8300.
Medeiros may face charges of attempted murder of a police officer, auto theft and promoting drugs in connection with the Monday incident.
He was convicted in a 1999 second-degree robbery case and sentenced to five years' probation, according to court records. He was found guilty on three misdemeanor charges, including abuse of a household member in 2001. He was also convicted of promoting a detrimental drug, a petty misdemeanor.
Police learned Medeiros' identity after he presented his driver's license to the officer, who was issuing him a speeding ticket.
Police said the officer stopped Medeiros about 6 p.m. Monday at Uakanikoo Place and Uakanikoo Street for speeding. The officer, suspecting the car was stolen, asked Medeiros to get out of the car.
When the officer tried to arrest Medeiros, the two struggled. Medeiros went back into the stolen car and sped off, injuring the officer, police said.
Medeiros drove into a cul-de-sac and abandoned the stolen car. The officer got out of his SUV and gave chase. Medeiros then jumped into the SUV and began driving toward the officer.
The 34-year-old officer, an 11-year HPD veteran, responded by firing at Medeiros, who then drove off. Police later found the SUV abandoned in Waipahu.
The officer suffered leg and foot injuries, and was treated and released at Queen's Medical Center.
