A drunken ladder thief was unsuccessful at evading police and flipped his truck in Oak Harbor March 14, according to court documents.

Jesus Mendoza, 30, appeared in court later that day, and the judge found probable cause existed to believe Mendoza committed the crimes of attempting to elude, reckless endangerment and DUI.

Mendoza was released on his recognizance.

Just before 1 a.m., the owner of a downtown bar reported to police that three men stole a ladder from his business and were trying to leave in a flatbed truck.

An Oak Harbor police officer responded and saw the truck traveling the wrong way on Pioneer Way. The officer activated his overhead lights and the truck pulled over, but then the driver abruptly put it into reverse and accelerated away, the officer’s report states.

The truck traveled at a high rate of speed and went through a red light at the intersection with Midway Boulevard. The driver, later identified as Mendoza, lost control of the truck, causing it to spin and flip over on the median, the report states.

Mendoza crawled out of the truck and ran but only got a few feet before slipping on the ground. He was arrested without further trouble. Neither Mendoza nor the two passengers were injured.

Mendoza gave a breath sample and his blood-alcohol content was measured at 0.21 percent, with 0.08 being the legal limit.