Man arrested after allegedly stealing Clovis police van

FRESNO, Calif. (KFSN) -- Clovis police arrested a man accused of stealing one of their department's vans.

Officers say Donald Walker, 32, of Clovis was initially arrested on Saturday night for a vehicle burglary in the 100 block of West Ashlan Avenue. He was left in the transport van momentarily while other prisoners were brought out.

Investigators say Walker managed to reposition his hands in front of him and open the lock on a metal partition that separates male and female inmates. Once outside the van, he raised the security door of the booking area and drove away while still handcuffed.

Authorities say Walker crashed several times before leaving the disabled van in a field and trying to run away. He was finally caught with the help of a K9 unit and helicopter crews in the 9700 block of East Ashlan Avenue.