A 19-year-old Hilo man faces numerous charges after he allegedly led police officers on a chase — at first, in a stolen car, and later, on foot.
Jonathan Kealoha Gardner is charged with attempted first-degree assault, unauthorized control of a stolen vehicle, reckless driving, resisting arrest, driving without a license, and three counts of first-degree terroristic threatening.
According to court documents filed by police, at about 7:50 p.m. Friday, Officer Jared Cabatu spotted a white 2013 Nissan Altima stopped on Apapane Road near Keokea Loop in Keaukaha and verified the car was reported stolen from the parking lot of Waiakea Villas in Hilo earlier in the day.
Cabatu reportedly turned on the blue lights and siren of his patrol car, got out of his vehicle and approached the Nissan. Gardner was in the driver’s seat and a woman was standing at the rear of the vehicle with the trunk open, police said. Gardner, according to police, drove directly at Cabatu, who had to jump out of the way to avoid being hit by the car, which ran a stop sign and sped off.
Other officers, identified in documents as Danton Zimmerman and Christian Sugimoto, found the Altima on King Avenue in Keaukaha. According to police, as the officers approached the stolen vehicle in their cars, the Altima’s headlights came on, and Gardner sped directly toward them, narrowly missing a collision with the two patrol vehicles.
The officers then reportedly turned around and pursued the stolen Nissan to the dead end of King Avenue, where Gardner allegedly jumped out as the vehicle was still in motion.
The stolen car rolled into some brush, and Gardner fled on foot through several residential lots and scaled several fences as officers pursued on foot, according to police.
Police say they caught Gardner and took him into custody on a driveway fronting an Andrews Avenue home.
No one was injured during the chase, police said.
Gardner told police he saw the key fob to the Altima on the parking lot pavement next to the car, according to documents, and decided to swipe the sedan. Police say Gardner told officers he drove to several friends’ homes and picked up the woman friend to go to a party.
During Gardner’s initial appearance Monday afternoon in Hilo District Court, Judge Bruce Larson denied a defense request to free Gardner on court-supervised release without cash bail and ordered him to return for a preliminary hearing at 2 p.m. today.
Gardner, who’s only prior adult criminal offense is a park hours violation, remained in custody late Tuesday afternoon at Hawaii Community Correctional Center in lieu of $77,100 bail.
The most severe charge, attempted first-degree assault, is a Class B felony that carries a maximum prison sentence of 10 years upon conviction. Unauthorized control of a stolen vehicle and first-degree terroristic threatening are Class C felonies carrying a potential five-year prison term.
Email John Burnett at jburnett@hawaiitribune-herald.com.
