A 31-year-old Honolulu man, who was charged with first-degree attempted murder after he allegedly tried to run down a patrol officer with a stolen car last week in Chinatown, had been released from prison last month after a misdemeanor theft conviction.

Police said Brandon Helekahi was a passenger in a stolen green Jeep Cherokee car when it was stopped at 11:30 a.m. March 28.

Helekahi’s record shows that he was convicted of theft March 8 and sentenced to four days in jail and fined $200. He also has seven misdemeanor convictions for theft and abuse of family member beginning in 1999.

Police said the Jeep had been reported stolen and was stopped by officers on Vineyard Boulevard at the Aala Street intersection.

When the woman, 36, stepped out of the vehicle, her male passenger jumped into the driver’s seat, and nearly ran over an officer as he sped away eastbound on Vineyard, police said. The officer was struck by the car but not injured, according to police. The woman, of a Papakolea address, was arrested for driving a stolen vehicle and driving without a license. 

Police caught the suspect at 9 a.m. Monday at Cartwright Park in Makiki. He also was charged with vehicle theft charge, police said.

His preliminary hearing will be held at 1:30 p.m. Thursday in District Court.