Officer fires shot at fleeing suspect in Kalihi

A Honolulu police officer fired his handgun at a fleeing auto theft suspect yesterday afternoon in Kalihi, police said. The suspect was not hit.

Police said the suspect, a 44-year-old man with no local address, pointed a gun at the officer, a member of an undercover auto theft unit, as he tried to run away on foot.

Police caught up with the suspect on North School Street, where he was arrested. The officer and suspect suffered minor injuries and both were treated and released from a local hospital.

The incident began at about 4:12 p.m. at Kohou and Houghtailing Streets. Police said undercover officers arranged to buy a stolen vehicle from two suspects. After the buy, police surrounded the men — the 44-year-old suspect and a 19-year-old Ewa Beach man. That's when the 44-year-old man pulled out a handgun, police said. One of the officers fired at the suspect and a foot chase ensued.

Police recovered a gun from the incident. The 44-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of auto theft, firearms violations and terroristic threatening. The 19-year-old was arrested on suspicion of driving without a license and hindering prosecution.