Suspect in truck theft, chase charged with 14 offenses 05-24-02

HAWAII COUNTY POLICE DEPARTMENT
AREA II CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION DIVISION
CAPTAIN JULIAN H. SHIROMA
PHONE: 326-4213
MAY 24, 2002
H-08407

MEDIA RELEASE UPDATE

Police have charged a 24-year-old man with a total of 14 offenses stemming from a high-speed chase of a stolen truck Wednesday (May 22, 2002).

The suspect, Louis Alani III, was charged at 8:30 a.m. Friday (May 24, 2002) with the following offenses:

  • Unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle.
  • Passing in no-passing zone.
  • Five counts of disregarding a stop sign.
  • Speeding.
  • Two counts of second-degree assault.
  • Two counts of first-degree criminal property damage.
  • Second-degree criminal property damage.
  • First-degree attempted property damage.

Alani is being held at the Kona police cellblock in lieu of $10,700 bail.

Driving a stolen truck Wednesday, the suspect led Big Island police officers and national park rangers on a chase from Puna to Kona before he overturned the vehicle and could be arrested.

After being treated for minor injuries at the Kona Community Hospital, Alani was taken to the Kona police cellblock, and the case was turned over to Kona Criminal Investigation Section detectives.

The chase started about 10:40 a.m. Wednesday when Puna patrol officers received a report that a 1995 Ford Ranger parked at about the 10-mile marker of Hawaii Belt Road (Route 11) had been stolen by an unknown male.

Minutes later, the stolen truck was seen traveling through the Hawaii Volcanoes National Park on the highway. Park rangers tried to stop the vehicle, but the suspect continued toward the Ka’u District at a high rate of speed.

As the truck entered the Ka’u District, Ka’u patrol officers took over the pursuit, which continued through the district at speeds sometimes reaching more than 100 miles an hour. When the suspect reached Hawaiian Ocean View Estates, he turned off the highway and led police through subdivision roads before turning back onto the highway.

As the truck crossed into the Kona District, a Kona patrol officer took over the pursuit. As the pursuit continued north, the suspect suddenly slowed the truck, then reversed it twice into the police officer’s vehicle.

The suspect then continued driving north on the highway until he turned off onto Kaohe Road near the Kona Paradise area. He drove up the unimproved road about one mile, and then turned back down towards the highway. About a half-mile from the highway, the suspect lost control of the truck, which struck an embankment and then rolled onto its side.

After wrecking the vehicle, the suspect fled on foot into the bushes. He was later spotted hear the highway, where he was arrested by Kona police and taken to the hospital for treatment of minor injuries.

During the chase on foot, a Kona patrol officer discharged the officer’s service firearm.

No one was injured when the weapon was fired, but when the suspect was finally caught, he was unarmed.

In accordance with standard department operating procedures, Internal Affairs Section officers will conduct an administrative investigation into the discharge of the firearm, and the involved officer has been placed on administrative duties pending the outcome of the investigation.

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