WILMINGTON — A search for two suspects who were on foot led authorities to put Holmes Elementary School on lockdown Thursday because the suspects were believed to be in the general vicinity.
As of Thursday afternoon, the Clinton County Sheriff’s Office continued to look for the suspects who earlier in the day fled from authorities.
Col. Brian Prickett of the sheriff’s office stated that deputies were checking out a report of a suspicious vehicle on U.S. 68 around noon Thursday.
“The deputy approached the truck and two subjects fled into a cornfield,” said Prickett. “We set up a perimeter and had dogs and a plane to try to help locate them.”
Prickett said they decided to put Holmes Elementary on a precautionary lockdown. The lockdown was lifted around 2 p.m. Thursday after they weren’t able to locate the suspects.
He believes the suspects took off running when the deputy approached because, upon inspecting their vehicle, law enforcement found multiple reported stolen items from other jurisdictions.
The sheriff’s office has people of interest in the incident, but it was not releasing names Thursday afternoon.
Wilmington City Schools’ Facebook page announced the precautionary lockdown: “Due to a local police pursuit of two fleeing suspects from a traffic stop on 68 South, we have added additional administration and law enforcement to provide extra supervision. All staff and students are safe and moving along with instruction in the classrooms.
“Law enforcement has advised that the best plan is continuing learning activities and a normal schedule. Safety is our top priority and we are being overly cautious. It is NOT necessary to come pick up your student(s). We will update you when Holmes has ended the lockdown,” stated the posting.
