LAGRANGE – A fugitive from Lagrange County was the object of a police chase in Steuben County early Friday morning and the apparent cause of a school lockdown at Prairie Heights.

Vincent Chilcote was wanted on warrants from LaGrange, Noble and Steuben Counties.

Acting on a tip, Steuben County deputies located him at the West Otter Lake public access site.

Deputies attempted to take him into custody but he fled in a vehicle, nearly running over a deputy who fired his gun at the vehicle.

The chase went to a bean field near 900 West and 300 North in Steuben County where Chilcote fled the vehicle on foot. An extensive search failed to locate him.

Numerous parents reported receiving phone calls from Prairie Heights that the schools were on lockdown Friday.

We reached out to School Resource Officer Gaylon Wisel to confirm that but received no response.

Later in the afternoon the school posted on Facebook that all after school activities were canceled except the football game at Central Noble.

It said all Saturday activities are still on as planned. If that changes, planned to send out a school message.

Police in Steuben and Lagrange Counties continue to seek leads in locating Chilcote. Anyone with information should the sheriff departments or Crime Stoppers.

Anyone who sees Chilcote should call 9-1-1.