Windward Oahu manhunt suspect has history of escaping law enforcement

HONOLULU (HawaiiNewsNow) - Authorities captured a suspect Wednesday in Windward Oahu following a dramatic search that involved a police helicopter and officers who fanned out in several neighborhoods.

According to police, they were alerted to a federal fugitive on the run with a warrant out for his arrest around noon.

The four-hour manhunt ended just before 4 p.m. on Wednesday in the woods above Keolu Hills in Kailua.

Law enforcement sources identified the man taken into custody as Michael Jay — a man with a history of armed robbery and escaping prison.

“There’s always a threat when someone is wanted for any type of federal warrant or any type of crime they need to be brought to justice for,” said Major Burt Soria of HPD.

Officials said the suspect’s vehicle was found abandoned in the Keolu Hills area.

HPD said witnesses reported seeing a male matching the suspect’s description entering the wooded area nearby.

Officials say the search included efforts by K9 units, a police helicopter, and an HPD drone unit.

Officers fanned out into the Enchanted Lake and Keolu Hills neighborhoods, including a door-to-door search and a search of the nearby wooded area, where they ultimately found the suspect, according to HPD.

Officials confirmed Jay was arrested without incident and handed over to U.S. Marshalls.

Jay previously pleaded guilty to robbery and gun charges. He was out on supervised release. In 2016, Jay allegedly slipped out of a state-holding run and was captured the next day outside the Salt Lake Shopping Center Longs.

In this most recent incident, Jay was transported to the hospital before being taken to the Federal Detention Center in Honolulu.

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