A man wanted by police is in custody tonight after tense moments in the Kailua neighborhood where President Obama and his family are vacationing.
"Police all came up behind him and Secret Service came out from the tent and HPD got out with the guns," describes Kailua resident Wink Arnott.
Arnott says at least 6 Honolulu Police patrol cars surrounded Kailuana Place, where a residential checkpoint is set up near the President's Kailua vacation home.
Police say officers were following a driver in a silver Nissan truck who was wanted on outstanding warrants.
"They asked him to stop get out of the car and he just floored it," says Arnott. "The guy just took off and it made the Secret Service people almost dive out of the way."
Arnott says the driver made it past the checkpoint and into the neighborhood.
"To be coming in here, where the President is staying, I don't think he realized where he was going," says Arnott.
Police say the driver then turned around and drove back out onto Kalaheo Avenue. Police say at no time did the vehicle enter the secured area where the Obama's are staying. Police say the driver then took off West bound on the H-3 freeway.
"I noticed on the on coming direction coming town-bound there was a silver titan coming down, cutting people off, 2 cop cars were chasing him," says Halawa resident Mike Silva.
The Silva family was heading to Kaneohe on the H-3 freeway when they saw the police pursuit. Silva says, minutes later they saw the same truck behind them heading East, driving at a high rate of speed.
"I was like, that cannot be the same one. Sure enough, right by us he overtook two cars on the shoulder lane," says Silva.
An HPD helicopter in the area spotted the Nissan truck and followed it into Waimanalo at the end of Waikupunaha road.
"All of a sudden I heard some snapping sounds and I heard the cops 'open the gate open the gate'," says Teri Waiolama, who was there to pick up her Grandchildren at their Uncle's house.
Police say officers cornered the driver, who refused to get out of the truck. They used a taser gun to apprehend him and take him into custody.
Kailua police say the driver is 39-year old Leon Rodrigues. He was taken to a nearby hospital with minor injuries.
Police say Rodrigues has five outstanding warrants. Police sources say he has led police on pursuits twice before.
Rodrigues is currently being held on the warrants and additional charges are pending.
