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WAILUKU -- A Kihei woman was arrested Saturday after she allegedly was seen driving a stolen car that damaged a rock wall and nearly hit a police officer in Wailuku.
Cynthia Tongi, 19, was charged with first-degree unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle, second-degree resisting an order to stop a motor vehicle and fourth-degree criminal property damage.
The Mitsubishi sedan was stolen Friday evening from the side of the road in Kihei when the owner left the car running while she got out to feed some feral cats, according to police.
A few hours later, in the early morning Saturday, police located the vehicle in Iao Valley and tried to stop it. The driver allegedly didn't stop and drove onto private property and over a small rock wall, which was damaged before the driver fled.
At 9:55 a.m. Saturday, police located the vehicle in the Wailuku area and identified Tongi as the driver and sole occupant, police said. Officers tried to stop the car near Imi Kala and Mill streets, but the driver didn't stop and nearly hit a police officer, according to police.
Tongi was located about a half-hour later when she allegedly was seen getting out of the driver's seat of the car parked by Piihana Farms in Wailuku and running away before officers apprehended and arrested her.
During Tongi's initial appearance Monday in Wailuku District Court, Deputy Prosecutor Jeffery Temas asked for bail to remain at $2,200 for Tongi.
Deputy Public Defender Lindsay Lipp asked for Tongi to be released on supervision so she could live with her parents and help them raise her younger siblings.
Judge Blaine Kobayashi kept bail at $2,200.
Tongi was ordered to have no contact with the car owner and the man whose wall was damaged.
In a pending case, court records show Tongi is charged with second-degree burglary and second-degree theft of items valued between $4,000 and $7,000 from the Maui Academy of Performing Arts at 2025 Main St. in Wailuku.
Surveillance video showed Tongi and a male entering the premises of the nonprofit theater company after 6 p.m. Sept. 5 and removing items, according to a declaration filed in court to support the charges. She was arrested Sept. 8 after she was seen sitting on the curb of the nearby McDonald's parking lot. Tongi was released on supervision in that case when she made an initial appearance Sept. 9 in Wailuku District Court.
* Lila Fujimoto can be reached at lfujimoto@mauinews.com.