Suspect allegedly tries
to run over police
in Waimea raid

A 48-year-old man has been charged with attempted murder after he allegedly drove his sport utility vehicle at an officer earlier this week while police were conducting a drug raid at a Waimea home on the Big Island.

Police also netted seven arrests in the raid, which occurred Tuesday night.

Randall L. Cruz is being held in the Kona cellblock in lieu of $206,750 bail. He was charged yesterday with first-degree attempted murder and resisting arrest.

He was also charged on several drug counts, including third-degree promotion of a dangerous drug and two counts of illegal possession of drug paraphernalia.

Police found 1.5 grams of crystal methamphetamine and 9.5 grams of marijuana in the SUV he was driving.

The incident happened about 9 p.m. Tuesday while West Hawaii Vice Section officers were raiding a Waimea home, located near the 55-mile marker of the Hawaii Belt Road.

Police said Cruz drove an Isuzu sport utility vehicle into the driveway, and when officers identified themselves, he allegedly reversed in an attempt to flee, striking a fence post, warehouse and tractor. The SUV then sped toward one of the officers, who fired a round from his gun.

The vehicle stopped after striking boulders in the driveway. Cruz and his passenger, whose house was being searched, were arrested. The officer who fired his weapon, a 23-year veteran of the Hawaii County Police Department, was not injured.

In the Waimea home that was raided, police found 1.8 grams of crystal methamphetamine and 23.3 grams of marijuana.

Cruz's passenger was released pending further investigation.

Three men, ages 27, 43, 31, and three women -- 39, 32, and 29 -- who were at the home when police arrived were also arrested and released pending an investigation.