Fugiitive who blundered into Obama's street is charged

Leon Rodrigues, 39, was being held on $6,350 bail after being charged with resisting an order to stop, reckless driving and contempt of court. Police said Rodrigues, pursued by police, drove into a security zone surrounding President Obama's vacation home. He led police on a high speed chase that ended with his arrest in Waimanalo yesterday afternoon.

The Kailua man accused of leading police on a lengthy chase, including a foray into the Kailua neighborhood where the president is staying, has been charged with multiple criminal counts.

Leon Rodrigues, 39, of Punaa Street, was being held on $6,350 bail. He was charged with two counts of resisting an order to stop and reckless driving. He was also being held on five contempt-of-court charges.

Police said that following a tip, they went to a Kailua house yesterday afternoon to serve a man wanted on five warrants. Responding officers spotted him driving his silver Nissan Titan pickup at Kainui Drive and North Kalaheo Avenue, about a block from where Obama and his family are staying.

Police officers began pursuing Rodrigues and, when he turned onto Kailuana Place — where the president’s rented vacation home is situated — they switched on their blue lights.

Rodrigues drove out of the presidential checkpoint, and led police on a chase toward Halawa on the H-3 Freeway, police said. He turned around and headed back toward the Windward side.

He was stopped and arrested in Waimanalo at Puuhonua o Waimanalo, the village founded by Hawaiian activist Dennis “Bumpy” Kanahele’s Nation of Hawaii.