The alleged driver of a stolen Toyota Tacoma pickup truck that led Kona patrol officers on a high-speed chase involving gunfire during afternoon rush hour Thursday is facing numerous charges.
Harvey Chevis Damo Jr., 25, of Hilo was charged Saturday night with unauthorized control of a stolen vehicle, second-degree theft, fourth-degree theft, fourth-degree criminal property damage and two counts each of first-degree terroristic threatening, resisting an order to stop and reckless endangering.
His bail has been set at $54,000 and his initial appearance is scheduled for today in Kona District Court.
A woman who was reportedly in the truck with Damo, 25-year-old Shevylyn Klaus of Hilo, was arrested on suspicion of second-degree theft, but was released Saturday night pending further investigation, police said.
Police were following up on a tip that Justin Waiki, the fugitive wanted in the Thursday shooting death of Officer Bronson Kaliloa, was seen in a primer-colored pickup in a Henry Street parking lot in Kailua-Kona.
Officers found a truck matching the description with a male driver and woman passenger at about 5:19 p.m.
Police say the driver ignored commands made by officers and instead drove toward an officer at high speed. The officer responded by firing three shots at the vehicle, police said. The truck fled and the chase was on via Hokulia Bypass Road and Napoopoo Road.
As the pursuit continued west on Napoopoo, another officer, who attempted to block the truck on the roadway, fired 10 shots at the truck, which continued onto Middle Keei Road, police said.
According to police, the Tacoma was ditched in a coffee field on Keala Makua Place in Honaunau and the pair fled on foot into lava fields and thick brush.
After a search of the area, officers found Damo and Klaus and took them into custody without further incident, according to police.
Damo was treated and released at Kona Community Hospital for a non-life-threatening gunshot wound.
The truck was allegedly stolen in Hilo earlier in the day.
Police say neither Damo nor Klaus appear to have any connection to Waiki.
Both officers who fired their weapons were placed on paid administrative leave pending internal and criminal investigations by the department.
Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call the police nonemergency line at 935-3311 or Crime Stoppers at 961-8300.
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
