ARLINGTON – A 25-year-old Arlington man is in jail after he tried to elude police Sunday in an Arlington Public Schools vehicle that was reportedly stolen, police said Tuesday.

The incident happened about 8 a.m. when a witness phoned police to report a school district supply box truck that had driven twice past his house, police spokeswoman Kristin Banfield said.

The truck ran a stop sign while reaching speeds up to 60 mph, said the witness, and he found it odd that a school vehicle was on the road on a Sunday.

Another resident in the 23600 block of Highway 9 reported the box truck in her driveway before the driver headed north.

Police units tracked down the truck near Angel of the Winds Casino, but the suspect then led them on a 2.5-mile chase that ended in the 1500 block of Highway 530, where he was pulled over and arrested.

The suspect told police he knew the vehicle was stolen, but it was a friend who took it from the school, Banfield said.

Brian Lewis, district director of facilities, confirmed the vehicle was missing. He said two padlocks – one to a gate and one to a security fence that encloses school vehicles – had been cut with a bolt-cutting tool.

Lewis confirmed that several tools were missing valued at more than $5,000. The suspect denied knowing anything about the tools.

During the arrest, officers allegedly found a pipe that looked to be used for smoking methamphetamine, Banfield said.

The suspect was booked into the Snohomish County Jail in Everett on suspicion of second-degree burglary, first-degree theft, possessing a stolen vehicle and attempting to elude police.