A 44-year-old Makawao man was arrested Tuesday night after he allegedly reversed his truck into another man's truck and used a metal object to shatter the driver's side window and to strike the victim, police said.
The incident was reported at 6:45 p.m. after the suspect alleged that the victim stole items, police said. The victim and two others were in a truck parked at St. Joseph's Church in Makawao when the suspect pulled up in his truck, blocking in the victim's vehicle, police said. The suspect got out of his truck, approached the victim and began yelling and punching the driver's window, police said.
The victim drove away on Piiholo Road. The suspect followed, stopping his truck in front of the victim's vehicle on the road near the East Maui Watershed Partnership, police said. When the victim stopped, the suspect reversed his truck into the front of the victim's truck a few times before confronting the victim with a metal object, police said.
The suspect said he was going to kill the victim while using the metal object to shatter the driver's window and to strike the victim on his shoulder and neck, police said. The suspect also punched the victim on his head and neck, police said, and tried to pull the victim out through the driver's window.
Police said the suspect also threatened to kill the victim when a passer-by reported being about to call police.
After officers had responded, the victim reported receiving a threatening phone call from the suspect, police said.
Officers located the suspect at his residence nearby, arresting him shortly after 8 p.m. He was later released pending further investigation of second- and third-degree assault, first-degree criminal property damage, first-degree terroristic threatening and first-degree unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle.
The 22-year-old victim didn't seek medical treatment after suffering redness and bruising to the back of his neck and face, and lacerations and abrasions on his left arm, police said.
* Lila Fujimoto can be reached at lfujimoto@mauinews.com.
