Police arrested an Erwin man late Tuesday night after they reported finding him at a county high school in possession of a van which had been reported stolen.

Officers of the Elizabethton Police Department arrested Jason Lane, 40, of 110 Carter Drive, Erwin, and charged him with possession of stolen property, vandalism over $1,000, leaving the scene of an accident, and first offense driving on a revoked license.

According to police reports, shortly before 11 p.m. on Tuesday, officers were advised to be on the lookout for a white GMC van that had just been stolen from the Johnson City Medical Center by a patient, identified as Lane.

Dispatchers told the responding officers the vehicle was last spotted on Powder Branch Road near Happy Valley High School. While officers were on their way to the school, dispatchers told them the suspect was on the phone with another party stating he was on foot and had left the van near the school.

“Upon my arrival to the area, I went to check the rear of the school and found that three gates between the buildings leading to the football field had been damaged,” EPD Officer Joe Holsclaw said. “I then located the vehicle in the field against the stands. The vehicle was left running with the radio volume all the way up, and the subject was later located in front of the school, and his shirt and a cell phone that belonged to the (vehicle owner) was located inside a school bus in front of the school.”

According to Holsclaw, the tire tracks at the scene showed Lane had driven the van through two chain link gates and the fence surrounding the field, then through the field before the van came to a stop against the stands.

Holsclaw said he read Lane his rights and the man agreed to answer questions.

“I asked what had happened and he stated it was all his fault, that he took the van and was trying to ‘raise warrior spirits’ for the upcoming football season, then stated he wanted his attorney,” Holsclaw said.

As Holsclaw performed a pat down search, he said Lane began talking again and said that he “was in serious need of help.”

“He said he understood he had to be locked up for what he had done, but stated he needed help for his mental issues,” Holsclaw said.

Holsclaw transported Lane to the Carter County Detention Center where Lane remains held without bond at this time. No information was immediately available on Wednesday regarding what, if any, charges Lane might face in Johnson City in connection with the incident.