BARRY MARKOWITZ / SPECIAL TO THE STAR-BULLETIN A federal police officer who was carjacked in front of the Keeaumoku Street Sam's Club yesterday filled out a report on the back of a police vehicle while Chief Boisse Correa, center, listened to an update from a police sergeant.

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Alleged thief kidnaps
officer in escape attempt

The man runs off after
a confrontation with the
staff at Sam's Club

A man unknowingly carjacked a federal police officer in an attempt to avoid being arrested yesterday afternoon for shoplifting at the Sam's Club on Keeaumoku Street.

Police said that about 2 p.m., the 39-year-old male suspect had been caught by store loss-prevention officers at the Sam's Club trying to leave the property allegedly without paying for items from the electronics department.

Once confronted by store officials, the suspect gave back the items but then panicked, pulled out a pocketknife and ran away, according to police.

Once out of the store, the suspect jumped into the passenger side of a passing Ford F-150 pickup truck and threatened the off-duty federal officer with his knife, telling him to drive off.

The officer did so and headed makai down Keeaumoku, turned Ewa on Kapiolani Boulevard, then went mauka on Cooke Street.

It was near the corner of Cooke and King streets, only a block from police headquarters, where police patrol cars pinned the vehicle in on both sides.

Police said that when the truck stopped, the driver grabbed his keys from the ignition and ran out of the vehicle, clearing the way for police to grab the suspect.

Police arrested the man for kidnapping, robbery and four counts of terroristic threatening. Police said the suspect has a history of shoplifting.