A 27-year-old man who police said was driving a stolen van that nearly ran over a police officer before slamming into more than a dozen vehicles Wednesday afternoon was charged yesterday with first-degree attempted murder.

Patrick Masaoka was being held last night in lieu of $250,000 bail. He also was charged with 13 counts of first-degree criminal property damage and two drug offenses.

If convicted of first-degree attempted murder, Masaoka would face a mandatory term of life in prison without the possibility of parole, the state's harshest penalty. Masaoka's criminal record shows seven convictions, including one for auto theft, theft and criminal property damage, according to Criminal Justice Data Center records.

On Wednesday, police said Masaoka was driving a stolen van when he and another man were spotted in Hawai'i Kai. Police set up a road block at Kalaniana'ole Highway and 'Ainakoa Avenue, where the van came to a stop.

A female police officer walked up to the van and shouted at the two men, according to an affidavit filed in District Court yesterday. Another police officer said he saw the van turn its tires and drive at the officer, nearly striking her, the affidavit said.

The female officer fired one round at the van before leaping out of the way of the vehicle, the affidavit said. The van continued westbound and plowed through 13 cars and nearly ran over a motorcyclist before becoming lodged between two cars.

Both men fled, but were later captured.

The van's passenger, Randy Ahnee, 39, was charged yesterday with two drug offenses and his bail was set at $50,000. Ahnee's criminal history includes a 1985 attempted murder conviction, for which he served eight years, according to the Criminal Justice Data Center.

Also yesterday, a man and woman who led police on an islandwide chase Thursday were charged in connection with that case.

Kelly Hager, 36, was charged with unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle and three drug offenses. His bail was set at $50,000.

Hager's companion, Malia Waters, 27, was charged with three drug-related offenses and her bail also was set at $50,000.

Police said Hager was driving a stolen Dodge Stratus that police began to pursue in Punalu'u Thursday morning. The car eventually wound up in downtown Honolulu where it crashed into a sport utility vehicle.

Waters was arrested nearby and Hager about 40 minutes later as he hid in a Nu'uanu Avenue parking garage.

Honolulu police said yesterday the number of police motor vehicle chases is up slightly in 2005, but there's no indication that criminals in cars are becoming more brazen or the police following them are taking any more risks.

"We're seeing a little bit higher numbers this year, but I don't think it's enough to say it's a trend," said Maj. David Kajihiro, a member of the police department's six-member Motor Vehicle Pursuit Review Board.

So far this year, the board has reviewed 39 vehicle chases, ranging from one minute to more than an hour. That's up from 37 last year, Kajihiro said.

The 2005 figures don't include this week's two highly visible vehicle pursuits.

Police regulations define a motor vehicle pursuit as any attempt by an officer to stop another vehicle when an occupant is a suspected law violator and the driver is attempting to elude police through evasive tactics or speeding. The definition does not include cases where a driver simply refuses to obey a command to stop without being evasive, according to the regulations.

While police did not have exact figures, Kajihiro estimated that about 10 percent of the cases reviewed result in some sort of officer counseling, retraining or discipline. Police do not keep track of the number of collisions or injuries.

Police officers weigh many factors in deciding whether to start or continue a pursuit, including the type of violation, road conditions, the identity of the suspect, traffic and the presence of pedestrians, Kajihiro said.

"And basically, they decide all of these things quicker than I can say them," he said. Regulations governing police motor vehicle pursuits have been in place since 1998 and "are working very well," he said.

Kajihiro acknowledged that police pursuits can inconvenience or even endanger others on the road, but said police can't abandon all pursuits.

"In every motor vehicle pursuit we realize there is an amount of risk involved and we weigh those risks in every situation," he said. "We cannot let everyone go ... because before we know it, everyone will run away and we won't catch anyone."

Reach Curtis Lum at culum@honoluluadvertiser.com and Mike Leidemann at mleidemann@honoluluadvertiser.com.