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A 31-year-old Waiehu man is facing an attempted murder charge after he allegedly injured a police officer and tried to run over another while attempting to avoid arrest on Friday.
The incident on Maui started at 11:12 a.m. when a caller reported a white Toyota Tundra swerving on Waiale Road in Wailuku.
A responding officer found the vehicle unattended in the parking lot of the Kehalani Longs Drugs store. A second officer arrived at the scene and saw two men enter the truck.
The first officer maneuvered his vehicle behind the truck, while the driver was focused on the second officer. Police said the driver reversed into the first officer’s vehicle, injuring him, but not seriously.
The truck then hopped a curb and accelerated toward the second officer, who jumped out of the way, according to police.
Police said the truck sped off to Puumakani Street in Kahului, where the two suspects fled on foot.
Maui Waena Elementary School, Lihikai Elementary School and Ala Lani Preschool were placed on lockdown as a precaution.
A check of the Toyota revealed that it had been stolen. A stolen moped that had fallen from the truck during the pursuit was also recovered.
The driver was later located and arrested on suspicion of first-degree attempted murder, first-degree criminal property damage, two counts of unauthorized control of a propelled motor vehicle and two counts of reckless driving. The second man has not yet been arrested.
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