A 27-year-old Guelph man was arrested on Sunday night after allegedly attempting to steal a cruiser while fleeing police.

Guelph police said officers were patrolling Carden Street downtown, when they were flagged down and told a man was swinging a metal pipe nearby.

When the officers located the man, police said "he displayed what was believed to be an edged weapon."

Police said the man fled after a "brief physical exchange" and got in the driver's seat of a police cruiser but was unable to steal the vehicle.

The man then ran into a parking lot off Macdonell Street, where he was arrested. He has been charged with several offences, including assault with a weapon and attempting to steal a motor vehicle.

Anyone with information or who may have witnessed the incident is asked to contact police or Crime Stoppers.