Hawaii island detectives are investigating a shooting in which an officer wounded a man who allegedly drove an SUV toward police after a short vehicle chase in Hilo.

The 38-year-old man was shot in the torso Monday and was reported in stable condition after he fled in a vehicle and then drove recklessly toward two police officers, Assistant Police Chief Henry Tavares said.

"They felt their lives were being threatened, and … fired … in an attempt to stop the threat," Tavares said in an interview Monday evening. "One officer fired three shots."

Tavares said the suspect was under police watch in a room in Hilo Medical Center.

He said the man was being held on suspicion of terroristic threatening and many more charges are pending against him.

The incident happened shortly after 11:30 a.m Monday, when police responded to a report of a domestic incident at a vehicle in the Panaewa area. The driver fled in the vehicle, and officers pursued the vehicle to Stainback Highway.

Police said the vehicle turned around on a side road and drove recklessly toward two officers, and in response to the threat, three shots were fired toward the vehicle. The man driving the vehicle then drove a short distance away, left the SUV and fled into the bushes. Police later arrested the Pahoa man as a suspect.