A quiet Friday morning in downtown Wailuku turned into a bruising pre-dawn mess when, police say, a 43-year-old Pukalani man went from burglary suspect to alleged driver in a tense roadside confrontation that left three officers hurt. Investigators say the man used a vehicle during the incident, crashed into a building loading area, was treated at the scene, and is now in custody.
Police Say Burglary Call Spiraled Into Street Confrontation
According to Hawaii News Now, Maui Police were called around 5 a.m. for a report of a forced entry in the 2000 block of Vineyard Street. Officers say the suspect got into a nearby vehicle, pulled a U-turn and drove up onto a sidewalk toward them, then sped off westbound on Vineyard Street.
Police say the driver then came back, again heading toward officers at speed. On High Street, the vehicle allegedly went out of control, hit a light pole and slammed into the loading area of a building at the intersection of Main and South High streets.
Struggle, Arrest And Officer Injuries
Officers found the suspect hiding near the wrecked vehicle and say he fought them as they moved to arrest him, including kicking at officers, which led them to use a Taser to gain control. The Maui Police Department said three officers suffered non-life-threatening injuries in the struggle.
One officer had a bite wound to the wrist, another injured ligaments in a hand, and a third officer had minor abrasions. The suspect was treated at the scene before being taken into custody, according to KITV.
Investigation Still Active
Police say detectives are still gathering evidence and interviewing witnesses while the investigation and charging review continue. Additional booking details are being held back while prosecutors review the case, per Hawaii News Now.
Suspect Under Review For Assault And Burglary Counts
Per reporting by KITV, the 43-year-old Pukalani man is under investigation for four counts of first-degree assault on a law enforcement officer and first-degree burglary. Police also say the suspect threatened to kill responding officers during the incident. Prosecutors will decide on formal charges after they complete their review.
Downtown Roads Closed And Morning Commute Snarled
The County of Maui issued an alert that roads in the Vineyard Street, North Church Street and North Market Street area were shut down while first responders worked the scene, which added to morning traffic headaches in downtown Wailuku. Officials asked the public to steer clear of the area while crews handled the crash scene and police carried out their investigation, according to the County of Maui CivicAlerts.
The Maui Police Department says the investigation remains open and more information could be released once detectives and prosecutors finish their review. This story will be updated as new details become available.
