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The Honolulu Advertiser
Posted at 12:15 a.m., Friday, October 3, 2008

Officer ignored stab wound to arrest suspect in Waikiki

By Rod Ohira
Advertiser Staff Writer

Hawaii news photo - The Honolulu Advertiser

Kawika K. Ah Quin

Courtesy Hawai‘i Criminal Justice Data Center

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A 36-year-old Honolulu police officer wrestled down and arrested a suspect who allegedly stabbed him early Wednesday in Waikiki.

Kawika Kapaamanakapena Ah Quin was charged Wednesday night with first-degree attempted murder and is being held in lieu of $75,000 bail after making his initial appearance Thursday at District Court.

An affidavit filed at court stated that police officer John Otto was stabbed in the lower abdomen while chasing down Ah Quin, who was wanted on a $20,000 misdemeanor warrant for failure to appear in court. Despite the injury, Otto wrestled with Ah Quin on the beach to make the arrest.

Otto was treated at a hospital for injuries and later released.

Ah Quin was arrested at Queens Surf Beach Park at 2:13 a.m. Police recovered a long double-edged knife at the scene.

According to the affidavit, police received an anonymous tip that Ah Quin was in an area between the Waikiki Aquarium and the concession stand. After locating Ah Quin, police attempted to detain him but the suspect turned and ran. Ah Quin allegedly knocked down a trash receptacle in attempt to slow down Otto, who was chasing him.

Otto was about an arm's length away from Ah Quin when the suspect turned halfway around and swung his right arm in a backward motion, striking the officer in the lower abdomen, the affidavit said. Otto pushed Ah Quin away from him to create distance and Ah Quin landed on the concrete wave barrier near the ocean.

Otto then jumped into the sand to apprehend Ah Quin. A fellow officer said Otto yelled out "knife" and threw it toward him while restraining Ah Quin, who stands 5 feet 10 and weighs 215 pounds.

Reach Rod Ohira at rohira@honoluluadvertiser.com.