A man who is a suspect in the theft of a police officer's guns was arrested yesterday after police said he led them on a car chase that began in the Makiki area, went to Pearl City and wound up back in Makiki where he was arrested.

Theodore Gates, 38, was booked on suspicion of unauthorized control of a vehicle, as well as several traffic violations. He was being held last night in the main police station cellblock pending charges.

Police also arrested Tiana Paia, 28, who was a passenger in the car driven by Gates. Charges against her also were pending.

Guns drawn, police cornered Gates after he drove down a dead-end street and tried to hide under a house.

Bob LaMaire, who lives at the end of Prospect Place, said he saw police chase a man and catch him at the rear of his neighbor's house. He said it didn't appear as though the suspect was armed.

"I heard them yelling if the guy had a gun, but I didn't see any gun on him," LaMaire said. " 'Check if he's got a gun! Look for the gun!' I heard that after they had him pinned down."

Gates is a suspect in the Friday break-in of an off-duty police officer's car in a parking garage on Aulike Street in Kailua. The thief made off with the officer's department-issued handgun, rifle, ammunition, identification card and gun holster.

Yesterday, an officer spotted a white Dodge Neon in the Punahou area that had car dealer paper plates that didn't match. Lt. Mark Boyce said the officers tried to pull over the vehicle at about 2:45 p.m., but the driver refused to stop and fled.

Boyce said the driver matched the description of the man wanted in connection with the Friday theft. An all-points-bulletin was issued and officers were warned that the driver may be armed with an automatic weapon.

As he fled from police, the driver often put other motorists at risk, Boyce said. At times, the vehicle exceeded 50 and 60 mph along city streets, he said.

"This person continued to drive recklessly through our district, which is Downtown, heads into the Kalihi area, all the way to Pearl City and continues to drive in a reckless and dangerous manner," Boyce said.

Once in Pearl City, the Neon headed back to town. Boyce said police were not in pursuit of the car the entire time, but were able to keep track of it through calls to police.

"His manner of driving was so reckless that we were getting calls in to 911. These drivers were calling us. They kept updating his position," Boyce said.

Police caught up with the car in the Punchbowl area as the car headed up Puowaina Drive to Stevenson Middle School. At one point, Boyce said, the car hit a curb or embankment and blew out some tires.

But the driver continued to flee police and raced through the school's parking lot, leaving behind a trail of motor oil and tire marks. The car then headed down the dead-end Prospect Place, where it came to a stop.

"He ran, and we caught him under one of the houses," Boyce said.

Gates and Paia were taken to a hospital for treatment of unknown injuries before they were brought to the police station. Police last night were seeking a warrant to search the vehicle.

Gates' criminal history includes convictions for auto theft, breaking into automobiles, criminal property damage, robbery and theft, according to records with the state Criminal Justice Data Center. Paia has misdemeanor convictions for theft and contempt of court, according to court records.