Attempted rape
was allegedly plannedRobert Allen O'Neal is accused
of trying to assault a jogger
A man accused of trying to kidnap a female jogger near Kapiolani Park on April 6 later told police he had been "obsessing and planning" the attack for more than a month, according to city prosecutors.
Robert Allen O'Neal was indicted Tuesday by an Oahu grand jury and charged with kidnapping and first-degree attempted sexual assault.
The court granted Deputy Prosecutor Chris Van Marter's request to increase O'Neal's bail to $100,000 from $35,000 based on O'Neal's statements to police.
According to court documents, a police officer who was at a storage shed near Paki and Monsarrat avenues shortly before 9 p.m. was preparing his all-terrain vehicle for routine patrol when he heard three screams for help followed by more muffled screams.
Officer Chris Kim said he looked in the direction of the screams and saw a man grabbing a female from behind about 50 yards away. The man appeared to be trying to pull her away from the lighted sidewalk area into a darkened area. The two struggled, and the man let go and fled further into the park as the woman ran back toward the lighted area.
Kim said he gave chase on his ATV with his blue light flashing and repeatedly ordered the man to stop. When he pulled alongside, the man suddenly stopped, but started fleeing again when Kim began to dismount. Kim captured the man a short time later and learned his identity from a Virginia driver's license.
The woman who was attacked approached Kim and told him O'Neal told her three times not to scream or he would kill her. O'Neal had a silver-colored knife in his right hand and had covered her mouth with his left hand, Kim noted.
The woman told Kim she bit O'Neal's left hand and tried to yell for help.