An early morning police chase Wednesday by Kirkland police ended in the arrest of an 18-year-old man – but not before he drove a stolen pickup truck through the fence at John Muir Elementary School.

He has been arrested for possession of stolen property and felony eluding of police officers.

The driver was first pulled over at around 12:30 a.m. during a traffic stop. The officer did a routine license plate check on the truck and discovered it had been reported stolen. Before officers could apprehend the suspect, he drove off.

During the short pursuit, the suspect crashed through the fence at the elementary school located at 14012 132nd Ave NE, as well as several interior fences near the playground, according to Kirkland Police Department spokesperson Lt. Mike Murray

The suspect eventually got back on the roadway and was chased up 132nd Avenue Northeast, where he got the truck trapped in mud and berry bushes. Another officer attempted to drive down towards him but also got struck.

Officers found the pickup truck empty and brought out a K9 unit, which located the suspect several minutes later. He was arrested and booked into the Kirkland Justice Center jail.

The cost in damages to the school has yet to be determined. Murray said the suspect will eventually be charged for damaging school property once the extent of the damage has been determined.