HILO, Hawai'i — Big Island police have charged a 28-year-old Hilo man with robbery and kidnapping in connection with an altercation in Hilo in which two men in a pickup truck rammed another vehicle, beat a man in that vehicle and abducted a woman.

Keone Smith was charged with robbery, kidnapping, criminal property damage and assault.

Police said Smith also was charged with hindering prosecution for allegedly helping Kole Race-Joaquin, who has been sought by police since he escaped from Hawai'i Community Correctional Center on Oct. 2.

Police said the fracas began in lower Waiakea Uka early Saturday, when a man told police that two other men in a truck rammed his vehicle, beat him, took his vehicle and kidnapped the woman with him.

The woman was found the following day, police said. The man and the woman had minor injuries, but did not need medical attention.

Police said Smith was being held at the Hilo cellblock in lieu of $200,000 bail.

Race-Joaquin is considered dangerous, and anyone with information on his whereabouts is asked to call Detective Juergen Canda at 961-2381 or the police nonemergency number at 935-3311.

People who wish to remain anonymous may call CrimeStoppers at 961-8300 in Hilo or 329-8181 in Kona. All CrimeStoppers information is kept confidential.