A Turlock man's attempt to evade police officers who saw him driving a stolen motorcycle by climbing a tree proved unsuccessful, as he was eventually spotted and arrested.

A Volunteers in Police Services patrol unit first spotted the stolen motorcycle at 2:26 p.m. Monday parked outside a business in the 200 block of Glenwood Avenue. Turlock Police and Stanislaus County Auto Theft Task Force officers, who happened to be in the area, responded to the call from the VIPS.

At this time the motorcycle, driven by James Harris, 42, of Turlock, left the Glenwood Avenue business and headed south out of town.

According to Turlock Police Sgt. Stephen Webb, officers attempting to catch up to Harris lost sight of the motorcycle somewhere in the area of Bradbury and Griffith roads. Officers eventually found the motorcycle abandoned alongside the road, along with a few clothing items. A search of the area uncovered not only the stolen motorcycle, but also Harris who had climbed a tree. Harris was arrested for auto theft.