Police car hits, badly injures pedestrian

A 66-year-old man was seriously injured Wednesday after he was hit by a police car while jaywalking on South Beretania Street in front of the main police station, police said.

The accident occurred at 4:30 a.m. when a man wearing dark clothing was hit when trying to get to the mauka side of 801 S. Beretania St., police said. Witnesses said the man darted out onto the roadway. He was taken to the hospital in serious condition, but did not suffer life-threatening injuries, police said.

The victim’s condition later worsened to critical, police said.

The police officer was uninjured. He was driving an unmarked police car. Police said the officer has been on the force for 14 years and is assigned to the downtown District 1 area.

The officer will continue his regular duties as a patrol officer while negligent injury and internal affairs investigations are conducted, a Police Department spokeswoman said.

Woman charged in illegal copper purchase

Police arrested and charged a 49-year-old Kapiolani woman Tuesday on suspicion of illegally purchasing copper.

The woman, a business owner, was charged with the misdemeanor offense of failure to obtain a statement that the seller had the legal right to sell the scrap metal. She posted $100 bail.

Police arrested Hui Ming Zhong at an Aiea property. Police did not say what kind of copper was involved. The offense allegedly occurred at 2:11 p.m. Tuesday.