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A 43-year-old homeless man who allegedly endangered the lives of five Honolulu police officers by ramming his truck against two police cars early yesterday near the Waimalu Plaza Shopping Center has been charged with assault on a law enforcement officer in the first degree, terrorist threatening in the first degree, 27 counts of possessing personal confidential information, promoting a dangerous drug and possession of drug paraphernalia, police said today.
Jessie Aquino also was arrested on retake and contempt warrants. He has 39 prior arrests and five felony convictions, police said.
Just before 2 a.m. yesterday, officers responded to a tip that a person with an outstanding warrant was in a truck parked outside the shopping center at 98-1277 Kaahumanu Street.
When officers woke the man, he allegedly climbed into the driver’s seat and started the engine, police said.
As the driver tried to flee, he began ramming police cars parked to the front and back of the truck, endangering the lives of five officers, said homicide Det. Bill Kato.
Paramedics took the driver to a hospital in serious condition.
Police searched the truck and arrested a 28-year-old, female passenger, Justina Mattos, who is also homeless.
Mattos also was charged with promoting a dangerous drug, possessing drug paraphernalia and 27 counts of possessing personal confidential information, police said. She also was arrested on a warrant for failing to appear and has nine prior arrests and four pending felony charges.
Bail for both Aquino and Mattos was set at $500,000.
