Police arrested a 39-year-old man suspected of siphoning gasoline from school vehicles parked at Sylvan Elementary School in north Modesto late Wednesday.
Michael Patrick Harney of Modesto was arrested on suspicion of burglary and evading police. He was being held at the Stanislaus County Jail on Thursday afternoon.
About 11:20 p.m. Wednesday, Modesto police were alerted by a campus burglary alarm at 2908 Coffee Road, just south of East Rumble Road.
Officers arrived and spotted Harney leaving a campus courtyard on a bicycle, said Lt. Rick Armendariz, a police spokesman. He said Harney left behind a gas tank and siphoning equipment.
The officers caught up to Harney about two blocks from the school. Armendariz said Harney smelled like gasoline when the officers apprehended him.
It's unclear which vehicles were siphoned. However, Armendariz noted there are maintenance trucks and school buses parked at the school.
Bee staff writer Rosalio Ahumada can be reached at rahumada@modbee.com or (209) 578-2394.
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