Chad Lewis, 27, of Hanapepe, was arrested Monday, charged with first-degree robbery, kidnapping, refusing an order to stop and resisting arrest in relation to the carjacking that occurred early Monday morning in Kaumakani. He was arrested in Pakala camp, off
Chad Lewis, 27, of Hanapepe, was arrested Monday, charged with first-degree robbery, kidnapping, refusing an order to stop and resisting arrest in relation to the carjacking that occurred early Monday morning in Kaumakani.
He was arrested in Pakala camp, off Kaumuali‘i Highway in Makaweli, while driving another car, said Cyndi Mei Ozaki, county public information officer.
The victim’s car, a 1996 white Thunderbird, was recovered later, she said.
In the incident early Monday, an ‘Oma‘o man was confronted in Kaumakani by a handgun-wielding man who forced him to drive to Lawa‘i, and then took his car.
No one was injured in the incident.
Lewis will be arraigned in District Court within the next two days, said deputy prosecuting attorney Craig De Costa.
While yesterday’s story indicated the case is the first carjacking incident on the island, Mayor Bryan J. Baptiste said he remembered another carjacking in the 1950s.
Many long-time residents said they believed Monday’s was the first carjacking ever on Kaua‘i.
But, according to published history, Ni‘ihau also had a carjacking.
The Japanese fighter pilot who crash-landed on Ni‘ihau after the bombing of Pearl Harbor in 1941 is said to have “carjacked” a horse and buggy while trying to escape.
Staff Writer Tom Finnegan may be reached at 245-3681 (ext. 252) or tfinnegan@pulitzer.net.
