A spree of violent traffic-related incidents on Hawai‘i Island led to the arrest of 31-year-old Pomaikai Olson of Nā‘ālehu, as reported by Hawai‘i police. The chaos unfolded in Volcano last Saturday afternoon and involved multiple vehicles being forced off the road, a carjacking at gunpoint, and an attempt to break into a residence.
According to the Hawai‘i Police Department, the series of events began with Olson driving a white Dodge pickup truck recklessly on Highway 11 within Hawai’i Volcanoes National Park. Straddling danger and aggression, the truck was observed pushing other vehicles off the road and causing collisions around 4:43 p.m. Soon after, a 62-year-old woman reported being carjacked by Olson, now carrying an airsoft pistol mirroring a real firearm, before he sped away in her Hummer H3.
Witnesses later called police with sightings of the stolen Hummer being driven dangerously, which led to Olson's confrontations with responding police vehicles and additional collisions. The vehicle chase culminated with the Hummer becoming disabled, prompting Olson to proceed on foot. Then, the suspect demanded a vehicle from a 79-year-old man at gunpoint, who managed to escape and alert the authorities.
With nowhere to go, Olson's last-ditch efforts to escape involved a residential break-in on the 17-400 block of Volcano Road in Kurtistown. Here, he brandished the airsoft pistol at a 53-year-old homeowner, coercing him to hand over keys to another Dodge pickup truck. In the ensuing chaos, the truck was driven crashing into another car and almost hitting a 26-year-old man. Responding to the threat, Olson threw the pistol at a passing vehicle and was restrained by the homeowner and his nephew until police took him into custody at 5:05 p.m.
Detectives from the Area I Criminal Investigation Section have been piecing together these incidents and are continuing with the investigation. Both vehicles Olson misused, the Hummer and the white Dodge, are being held for search warrants. It has been established that Olson did not have authorized use of the original Dodge pickup, owned by a family member. Additional charges pending the investigation results will be discussed with prosecutors.
Police are requesting any potential witnesses or victims to speak up. Detective Amy Omaya can be contacted at (808) 961-2381 or via email at [email protected]. Anonymous tips can be directed to Crime Stoppers at (808) 961-8300, rewarding information leading to assistance in the matter with up to $1,000.
