(KPUA) Big Island police have charged a 23-year-old fugitive with 11 separate offenses stemming from an encounter last month in Waimea, South Kohala.
West Hawaii Criminal Investigation Section detectives charged the suspect, Kalani Kaohimaunu, with one count of first-degree attempted murder, three counts of second-degree attempted murder, three counts of terroristic threatening, three counts of use of a firearm in commission of a felony and one count of felony possession of a firearm.
He is being held in the Kona police cellblock in lieu of a total bail of $288,000. West Hawaii CIS detectives are continuing the investigation.
On Sunday evening (March 20, 2005) Kaohimaunu was arrested without incident in the Pohoiki, Kalapana, area of Puna by Big Island police, the state Sheriff's Department and members of the Hawaii Fugitive Task Force. At that time, he was charged with escape.
That charge stems from an escape on October 27, 2004, when Kaohimaunu fled on foot from adult correction officers as he was being transported to the South Kohala District Court for a scheduled appearance on warrants for contempt of court and failure to appear.
The attempted murder and other charges stem from an incident that occurred on February 5, 2005, at a Waimea residence belonging to his mother. In that incident, Kaohimaunu brandished what appeared to be a .22-caliber rifle and confronted three men looking for his brother. As the three victims fled the area in their vehicle, Kaohimaunu fired four to eight rounds at them. Several rounds struck the rear bumper and grazed the right rear passenger door.
The Hawaii Fugitive Task Force, which aided in his capture, is a special group formed by the U.S. Marshals Service and composed of federal, state and local law enforcement agencies.
The HFTF was organized to help the four county police departments apprehend felony fugitives wanted by federal, state and local authorities. Statewide, there are more than 1,000 felony warrants outstanding.
(Copyright 2005 New West Broadcasting--KPUA.net)
