Court clerk allegedly stole $930 in gifts

A former Oahu Family Drug Court clerk accused of using $930 in gift cards purchased for program participants has been charged with theft.

Filo Lise Atuatasi-Pouono has been charged with second-degree theft, a Class C felony punishable by up five years in prison and a $10,000 fine, according to the Attorney General’s Office.

A complaint filed against Atuatasi-Pouono alleges that between May 31 and Oct. 31, she used Kmart gift cards with a cash value of $930 for her personal use. The gift cards were purchased by the Judiciary as rewards for drug court participants, according to a news release.

Atuatasi-Pouono is scheduled to be arraigned at 9 a.m. Thursday before Circuit Judge Richard K. Perkins.

Officer shoots at suspect car

While Hawaii island police look for the driver of a Honda sedan that endangered two police officers in separate incidents Friday, police officials are also reviewing the actions of one of the officers who fired three shots at the escaping vehicle.

According to police, a Puna patrol officer drove toward a suspicious car at the end of Mokuna Street in the Royal Hawaiian Estates subdivision around 1 p.m. The car, described as a blue or teal Honda four-door sedan with black or gray side panels — drove directly toward the officer’s vehicle, swerving at the last moment before fleeing.

The car continued north into oncoming traffic on the southbound lane of Highway 11 in the Mountain View area, where it proceeded through an active road construction site and directly toward an officer who was directing traffic. The officer fired three shots, striking the car as it drove away toward Hilo.

Police are asking anyone with information about the location or the car or the identity of the driver to call the department’s nonemergency line at 935-3311. Tipsters who prefer to remain anonymous may call the islandwide Crime­Stoppers number at 961-8300 and may be eligible for a reward of up to $1,000.