A 23-year-old Kona man has been charged with nearly a dozen offenses after he allegedly tried to flee from police Monday at the scene of a shoplifting in Kailua-Kona.
Police said two men apparently working together allegedly stole items from a store on the 74-5000 block of Kamakaeha Avenue. One allegedly left the store by a rear door with the items and ran into nearby brush.
The other, identified as Jesse Travis Ralston of Kailua-Kona, left through the front entrance and got into a black Honda Civic.
Police arriving shortly before 3 p.m. tried unsuccessfully to stop the vehicle in the parking lot, then followed it to the intersection of Queen Kaahumanu Highway and Kealakehe Parkway where the driver jumped out of the Honda and began running.
Ralston, who was caught after a short pursuit, resisted arrest, police said. He was treated by county paramedics for what was described as minor abrasions and then released to the officers.
Police determined that the vehicle had fraudulent license plates and had been reported stolen from a home in Kailua View Estates around Dec. 10.
Ralston was allegedly found to have crystal methamphetamine in his possession. Police said execution of a search warrant on the vehicle revealed more crystal meth inside.
Ralston was charged today with car theft, failure to obey a police officer, resisting arrest, reckless driving, fraudulent use of a license plate, two counts of promoting a dangerous drug, possession of drug paraphernalia and three counts of violating probation.
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