WAILUKU — Police arrested a man who was caught allegedly breaking into a rental car, then crashing a stolen vehicle into two other vehicles while fleeing from police Tuesday in Kihei.

Christopher Hoffman, 41, is charged with first-degree unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle, four counts of habitual property crime, third-degree criminal property damage, attempted fourth-degree theft, two counts of violating public health emergency rules, unauthorized control of a propelled vehicle, first-degree resisting an order to stop a motor vehicle, leaving the scene of a collision involving damage to property and inattention to driving.

During Hoffman’s initial appearance Thursday by videoconference from the Maui Community Correctional Center, Deputy Prosecutor Joshua Kent asked for bail to remain at $15,000.

At 6:28 p.m. Tuesday, the renter returned to a vehicle parked at Mile Marker 10 on Honoapiilani Highway and reported finding Hoffman breaking into the vehicle, Kent said. When the renter confronted Hoffman, he said the vehicle had already been broken into and “if someone’s going to jack it, I’m going to jack it too,” Kent said.

Hoffman drove away in a Jeep and police were called, intercepting the vehicle on North Kihei Road, Kent said.

He said Hoffman didn’t have a driver’s license and the Jeep had been stolen earlier that morning from Kihei Auto Sales.

Officers activated blue lights and sirens near the Kealia Coastal Boardwalk to try to stop the Jeep, but Hoffman refused to stop and began speeding up, according to police. Because Hoffman was speeding and recklessly passing other vehicles, officers stopped pursuing him, police reported. He reportedly was trying to overtake more vehicles on North Kihei Road when Hoffman crashed into two vehicles, pushing them off the road and causing damages, Kent said.

He said airbags deployed in one vehicle, and a mother and two children were in the other vehicle.

The Jeep came to rest on a berm, and Hoffman ran, Kent said.

He said officers chased Hoffman into the Sugar Beach parking lot, where he was arrested after being Tasered.

Hoffman has prior convictions for leaving the scene of a crash involving damage to a vehicle or property, leaving the scene of a collision involving bodily injury, seven counts of contempt of court, five counts of failure to appear, resisting arrest, two counts of violating a public health emergency rule, third-degree theft, two counts of harassment, three counts of fourth-degree theft and reckless driving, Kent said.

He said the facts and Hoffman’s record showed “the defendant will essentially try to evade capture through any means.”

Deputy Public Defender William Pannell asked for Hoffman to be released on supervision, saying he would agree not to drive while released.

Noting that Hoffman is facing seven felony charges, Judge Douglas Sameshima kept bail at $15,000 for Hoffman. He was ordered not to possess alcohol or illegal drugs and not to drive any vehicles.

* Lila Fujimoto can be reached at lfujimoto@mauinews.com.