SPENCER — Three area schools were on lockdown for two hours Monday morning following a break-in in the Spencer area.
“We had a call about a breaking and entering in progress and they gave a suspect vehicle,” said Spencer Police Chief Michael James.
James said a Spencer Public Works employee noticed “something didn’t look right,” and alerted law enforcement.
A Spencer police officer driving in the area came upon the suspects inside a Ford Expedition, traveling in the opposite direction. The officer turned on his blue lights and siren and began to turn around. The suspects sped off, James said.
The driver of the sport utility vehicle ran through a stop sign and struck a tree. The suspects inside the vehicle ran on foot.
Spencer Officer Jim Cayer chased the suspects and three people were caught and face felony breaking and entering charges.
Authorities believe there were five suspects, possibly six involved in the break-in.
The men broke into a home in the 500 block of Pineview Drive, where they took three flat screen televisions, two Xbox game consoles, money and a computer.
No one was home during the break-in, James said.
As a precaution, North Rowan High School was placed on a code red lockdown, while North Rowan Middle and North Rowan Elementary schools were placed on a code yellow lockdown, all three at 11 a.m., but it was lifted at 1 p.m., said school system spokeswoman Rita Foil.
During a code red, classes are stopped and students are gathered in a central location. No one is allowed to enter or leave the buildings, according to the school system’s policy.
During a code yellow all of the doors to the school are locked and secured. The students do not leave the building and there are no outside activities, but classes continue as usual.
North Rowan High was reduced to a code yellow lockdown prior to the lockdown being lifted.
Principals of those schools were able to notify parents of the lockdown via Connect-ED, the school system’s automated phone messaging system.
James said his office is still sorting out what took place and are looking for the other suspects involved. Officers from East Spencer and the Rowan County Sheriff’s Office also aided Spencer Police during this incident.
Charged are:
• Malik Durand White, 17, of the 500 block of Hyde St., Kannapolis, with felony breaking and entering, larceny after breaking and entering and misdemeanor resist, obstruct, delay an officer. He has since been released under a $25,000 secured bond from the Rowan County Detention Center.
• Preston Ja-Quad Dalton, 17, of the 600 block of West Liberty Street, with felony breaking and entering, larceny after breaking and entering and misdemeanor resist, obstruct, delay an officer. Dalton remains in the Rowan County jail under a $25,000 secured bond.
A third person was taken to Novant Health Rowan Medical Center where he was treated for a cut to his head, which he sustained in the crash. His name was not available at press time.
James encouraged citizens to call law enforcement if they suspect suspicious activity or something that looks out of place.
Anyone with information about the other suspects is asked to contact the Spencer Police at 704-633-3574 or Rowan-Salisbury Crime Stoppers at 1-866-639-5245.
Contact reporter Shavonne Potts at 704-797-4253.