Officials Capture Four Suspects Near Prince Avenue Christian School

The announced the capture of four male suspects, two of whom authorities had been chasing on foot near off US Highway 78, which was locked down during the manhunt.

The office reported the lockdown on its Facebook page shortly after 3 p.m. Wednesday, and announced the all clear about 3:45.

Chief Deputy Lee Weems of the Sheriff's Office said it all started when Sgt. Shane Partain attempted to pull over the driver of a vehicle for a traffic violation on US Highway 78 around Georgia Highway 53 and the driver attempted to flee.  Near Prince Avenue Christian School, the vehicle stopped and two men jumped out and fled into the woods and two others surrendered immediately, he said.

The vehicle had been reported stolen out of Dekalb County, he said.

Oconee County deputies, with assistance from the Georgia State Patrol, Winder Police, and , set up a perimeter and, as a precaution, the school was placed on lockdown, Weems said.  A K-9 unit was also deployed.

A citizen saw the two suspects emerge from the woods, cross Thornton Road and enter into another patch of woods where they were apprehended, he said.

Weems didn't think any of the suspects were armed, but he said authorities believe the men are affiliated with a gang.

Three of the suspects will be booked into the Oconee County Jail and one, a juvenile escapee from a group home, will be handed over to the appropriate authorities.  More information about their identities was not immediately available.

Around 3:45 p.m. the lockdown was lifted.

"The safety of the school was never compromised," Weems said. "Because we were so close to the school, we had to lock it down."

He said the school "did a wonderful job" cooperating with authorities.

This is the second time in two days that criminal activity has been reported near a school or child-care facility. was , and cash and a center van were stolen.