Fugitive caught
after leaping
out of windowEric Collier, wanted in
an "ice" case, was hiding
out in a hotel
A fugitive was chased down by law enforcement agents yesterday after he jumped out a second-story window of a Keeaumoku-area hotel while trying to escape arrest.
A Honolulu police officer was treated for minor injuries sustained during the chase.
The same officer also accidentally discharged his weapon and fired several shots, said HPD officials. The incident is being investigated by Internal Affairs, which is standard procedure when an officer fires a weapon, HPD spokeswoman said.
Eric Mark Collier, 37, had been wanted on a federal warrant for attempted drug possession with intent to distribute after allegedly having about $1.2 million in crystal methamphetamine, or "ice," delivered to him hidden in a television set on July 3.
Police arrested another suspect in the case who said Collier promised to give him a portion of the nearly 9-pound shipment of ice if he accepted and signed for the parcel. Collier's whereabouts since then were unknown.
Yesterday, after receiving a tip, the Hawaii Federal Fugitive Task Force -- consisting of police, sheriffs, federal Drug Enforcement Administration agents and U.S. marshals -- staked out the Pagoda Hotel on Rycroft Street, where Collier had rented a second-floor room with his girlfriend and their 9-month-old daughter.
After several hours of surveillance, task force agents took into custody Collier's girlfriend and their baby girl when both left the room after 12:30 p.m. Agents then called Collier to let him know that law enforcement agents were outside and that he should give himself up.
Sheriffs said Collier hung up, peeked outside his door and slammed it shut when he saw task force members outside.
Sheriffs said Collier broke through the louvers on his hotel window and jumped out.
Task force agents said Collier landed on a first-floor balcony below his room, then jumped down to the ground level on Rycroft Street. Collier led task force agents on a short foot chase up Ahana Street, but he was tackled and arrested.
He was taken to the Queen's Medical Center for treatment of abrasions received during his arrest.
As of yesterday evening, task force agents were still trying to obtain a search warrant for Collier's hotel room and his vehicle.
