Captain Cook man — allegedly fueled by drugs — pursued by police while driving girlfriend’s car as she cries in back seat

A 28-year-old Captain Cook man was arrested the evening of July 10 on a slew of offenses following a police pursuit that began with him fleeing in his girlfriend’s car — while she cried in the back seat after he allegedly threatened to kill her — and ended with the car crashing about an hour later and 6 miles away from where everything started — all while he was reportedly fueled by drugs.

Hawaiʻi Police Department reports Weston Duarte was arrested for the following offenses:

• Operating a vehicle under the influence of an intoxicant.
• Driving without a valid driver’s license.
• Abuse of a family or household member.
• Second-degree reckless endangering.
• Resisting an order to stop.
• Reckless driving.
• Second-degree terroristic threatening.
• No motor vehicle insurance policy.

Kona patrol officers responded shortly before 4:30 p.m. that afternoon to a home in the 82-6100 block of Nāpōʻopoʻo Road in Captain Cook after Hawaiʻi Police Department Central Dispatch received 9-1-1 text messages from a 35-year-old woman reporting she needed help.

She said her boyfriend — later identified as Duarte — was high, refusing to return her car and keys, threatening to kill her and also had an outstanding warrant for his arrest.

The woman reported she and Duarte were inside her gray Mazda 3 sedan parked in the home’s driveway. She went on to tell police that Duarte was armed, using methamphetamine and had physically assaulted her.

Officers saw the Mazda — which is registered to the woman — speeding down the driveway and continue south on Nāpōʻopoʻo Road as they arrived shortly after 5:10 p.m.

A man matching Duarte’s description was driving, and they saw the woman, crying, in the back seat.

Officers pursued the vehicle but lost sight of it. A short time later, they saw the same car heading north on Highway 11 in the southbound lane at a high rate of speed.

The Mazda swerved back into the northbound lane and continued out of view.

Officers located the car about 6 p.m. after it crashed near the 109-mile marker on Highway 11. Duarte was found in the roadway and arrested. The woman was found in the back seat of the car.

Hawai‘i Fire Department medics responded, transporting Duarte and his girlfriend to Kona Community Hospital.

Duarte was later transferred to The Queen’s Medical Center on O‘ahu for further treatment. The woman remains at the Kona hospital in stable condition.

Police confirmed through further investigation that Duarte was the driver during the earlier pursuit.

Anyone with information about this incident is encouraged to contact Detective Jeremiah Hull at 808-430-8634 or via email at jeremiah.hull@hawaiicounty.gov. They can also call the Hawaiʻi Police Department non-emergency line at 808-935-3311.

Those who want to remain anonymous can call Crime Stoppers at 808-961-8300.