Police say escapee had eventful day on Kauai

A Kauai prison escapee went on an eight-hour crime spree before he was captured Friday, police said.

Walter Mills, 43, is expected to be charged with multiple offenses relating to escape, robbery, kidnapping and unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle.

Kauai police launched a manhunt Friday after Mills allegedly went on a carjacking and robbery rampage, triggering a lockdown at several schools.

Mills escaped Thursday from Kauai Community Correctional Center and was reported missing from a head count at 8 p.m. He was caught about 20 hours later near Kokee Lodge.

On Friday a surveillance camera at a First Hawaiian Bank branch on Rice Street in Lihue showed an image of a robber closely resembling Mills at 8:30 a.m. The suspect fled on foot and was last seen near Kalawai Park in Kalaheo, police said.

About 30 police officers and the Air 1 helicopter took part in the search, and police warned the public not to approach a possibly armed Mills.

At about 9:50 a.m. police received a report that someone who fit Mills’ description brandished a weapon and stole a Ford pickup truck from a man at Kukui Grove Shopping Center. Shortly afterward the pickup was ditched near Sudz Car Wash in Lihue, and the suspect fled on foot.

Police said they believe that he then got into a county paratransit bus, brandished a weapon and forced the male bus driver to take him to Koloa. There were no passengers on the bus at the time.

At approximately 10:20 a.m., police were then notified that Lifeway Pharmacy in Koloa was robbed by someone matching Mills’ description.

Mills allegedly carjacked two additional vehicles before eventually being dropped off at Kalawai Park in Kalaheo, where he fled the vehicle on foot shortly after 11 a.m.

He was taken into custody shortly after 4 p.m. when he was captured by police without incident near Kokee Lodge after bystanders reported seeing someone matching his description sitting in a vehicle there.

Schools, including Kauai Community College, were placed on lockdown as police searched for the suspect. The lockdown was lifted by 2 p.m. at Koloa Elementary School, Kalaheo ­Elementary School, Eleele Elementary School, Kekaha Elementary School, Waimea High School, Waimea Canyon Middle School, Wilcox Elementary School and Chiefess Kamakahelei Middle School.

Mills has 14 criminal convictions, including theft, fraudulent use of a credit card, criminal contempt of court, abuse of a family/household member and driving under the influence of alcohol.