Posted on: Friday, September 21, 2001

Attempted-murder suspect has 17 convictions

By Brandon Masuoka
Advertiser Staff Writer

A convicted felon who was wounded by a police officer after he nearly ran the officer over in Nanakuli on Monday was involved in a similar police shooting in 1996.

Benjamin Pale, 31, was charged Wednesday with one count of first-degree attempted murder. His bail was set at $500,000.

On Monday, Officer Philip Aguilar reported on the police radio that Pale had attempted to "run him over" on Palikea Street in Nanakuli, according to a court document and police. Aguilar said he fired two shots at Pale.

Police said Aguilar had been following up on a report of stolen vehicles being stripped on Palikea Street when a white Nissan driven by Pale backed out of a driveway and nearly hit Aguilar and another man. Pale was later arrested in a stolen jeep along with four other people in the Kapolei area.

Pale was treated for a gunshot wound to his shoulder at the Queen's Medical Center.

In June 1996, Pale tried to flee from police during a traffic stop and ended up ramming a police car. Officer Gregory Cantrell, who was nearly hit by the car, fired his gun 14 times as Pale drove away.

Pale, who was not hit, was arrested on suspicion of first-degree attempted murder and pleaded guilty to second-degree criminal property damage. Prosecutors said Cantrell was justified in firing at Pale.

Pale has 17 convictions, including 11 felony convictions, according to the Hawai'i Criminal Justice Data Center.