A man who police say is a suspect in the Oct. 12 home invasion of "Lost" actor Josh Holloway pleaded guilty 11 months ago in two auto-theft cases and was on probation when he was arrested Tuesday.

Ruben Royce, 20, was charged in April 2004 with stealing a black Mercedes 500SL from a residence at 60 Poipu Drive in Hawai'i Kai, according to court records, and was charged in November 2003 with stealing a Volkswagen Jetta in Waialua.

After stealing the Mercedes, Royce hit four parked cars before ditching it and trying to run, police said. He was chased by two men and was eventually subdued by an off-duty police officer.

Royce was sentenced in November to five years' probation and a year in jail by Circuit Judge Karl Sakamoto, who agreed to include a provision that Royce could be released early if he enrolled in a substance abuse program.

Police said they arrested Royce Tuesday morning at the corner of Seventh Avenue and Keanu Street in Kaimuki. He was arrested on suspicion of three counts of misdemeanor abuse of a household member in a case involving his pregnant girlfriend, and one count of violating a temporary restraining order brought against him by his mother.

In addition, he was arrested on suspicion of auto theft, first-degree burglary and a contempt warrant accusing him of failing to show up for a court hearing. Police said Royce's arrest Tuesday was not directly related to the Holloway robbery, but he remained in police custody yesterday as a suspect in the case.

Police did not say why Royce is a suspect in the Holloway robbery.

The driver of the car Royce was riding in when he was arrested was released yesterday.

Police patrol officers and investigators from several specialized divisions were looking for Royce on Tuesday after police received information that he was armed, police said.

Royce was the passenger in a car driven by another man when they were spotted by police, followed for a short while, and then pulled over for reckless driving. The officers recognized Royce and asked that he and the driver get out of the car, police said.

The pair initially refused and police used "non-lethal" force, such as rubber bullets, to subdue the men, police said.

Royce was described as a suspect in the Oct. 12 hold-up of Holloway at his home in Hawai'i Kai. Holloway told police that an intruder pointed a gun at him and his wife at about 4 a.m. and left with cash, credit cards and Holloway's Mercedes Benz.

Reach David Waite at dwaite@honoluluadvertiser.com and Peter Boylan at pboylan@honoluluadvertiser.com.