Police Pursuit of Stolen Vehicle Nets Arrest

A police chase that started in Kihei and ended in Waikapū on Monday morning, resulted in the arrest of a 26-year-old man, who police say has no local address.

Joshua Arruiza

The incident began at around 11:30 a.m. on Monday, Aug. 14, when Kīhei Patrol officers followed a stolen vehicle observed traveling on South Kīhei Road.

Police say the operator of the vehicle refused to obey officer’s orders to stop and drove recklessly toward North Kīhei Road. Once the vehicle got onto the Honoapiʻilani Highway, officers lost sight of it in Waikapū.

Police say officers from the Crime Reduction Unit along with Community Police Officers from both Kīhei and Wailuku located the operator and the vehicle on a dirt road between Waikō Road and Maui Lani. Police say the stolen vehicle, a red 1994 Acura sedan, had been spray painted with white and black paint.

Police say the operator was identified as 26-year-old Joshua Arruiza.

He was charged for the offenses of Unauthorized Control Propelled Vehicle, Resisting an Order to Stop and Reckless Driving. He was also arrested for an unrelated Contempt of Court warrant. Total bail was set at $1,650.