A parolee suspected of stealing a police officer's patrol car is expected to appear in court Friday, authorities said.

Jon Anthony Tolden, 35, was arrested Wednesday afternoon on suspicion of theft of a police vehicle and booked into Orange County Jail, said Sgt. Dan Adams of the Orange Police Department.

At 4:30 p.m., a police officer from the Orange Police Department had stopped his black and white Ford Crown Victoria in the 500 block of West La Veta Avenue just east of the railroad tracks to investigate why the railroad arms were malfunctioning, Adams said.

The officer had left the car with its ignition on and the overhead emergency lights flashing. As he briefly stepped away from it, a man, later identified as Tolden, got in and drove off in the car along La Veta, Adams said.

Tolden then stopped the car on Batavia Street at La Veta Avenue, less than half a mile from where it had been stolen and fled on foot, climbing over a wall near a convent, Adams said.

In the meantime, the officer from whom the car had been taken radioed for help. At least 10 officers responded to the 480 block of Batavia. Tolden was caught without incident.

There were no injuries or damage. The motive is unknown, and the man was not intoxicated, Adams said.

Tolden apparently has had other run-ins with the law.

According to court records, a man with the same name and date of birth:

•In 2003 was arrested on suspicion of felony being a gang member carrying a concealed firearm in a vehicle with a sentencing enhancement for being in a criminal gang and misdemeanor street terrorism. He was sentenced to 16 months in state prison.

•In 2005 was found guilty by a jury of driving under the influence of alcohol. Three months later, he was arrested for the same offense.

•In 1997 was arrested for misdemeanor hit-and-run with property damage and was cited for driving at an unsafe speed. He was sentenced to three years probation, 30 days in jail and 240 hours of community service.