Police chase prompts temporary lockdown of Post-Franklin Elementary Friday afternoon

BATTLE CREEK — A Battle Creek elementary school was briefly placed on lockdown Friday afternoon as police apprehended a fleeing suspect nearby.

Two Battle Creek police officers attempted to make a traffic stop near the intersection of Oak Street and High Street, in the central part of the city, shortly after 12:30 p.m. Friday, according to the Battle Creek Police Department. The vehicle that the officers attempted to stop continued to drive, turning into a nearby driveway and finally crashing into a detached garage on the property.

Once the vehicle crashed and came to a stop, the suspect — who was the driver and only occupant of the vehicle — was identified by officers to be in possession of a gun, as a gunshot was heard from inside the vehicle during the crash, police said. The BCPD advised Post-Franklin Elementary to immediately go into lockdown due to their proximity to the incident.

The suspect then exited the vehicle and fled from police. Officers apprehended the suspect and recovered the handgun. Post-Franklin Elementary was then advised that the lockdown could be lifted.

An investigation is currently ongoing. Police believe this was an isolated incident and that there is no danger to the community.

The BCPD was assisted by both the Calhoun County Sheriff’s Department and Emmett Township Police Department in their response to this incident.

Contact reporter Greyson Steele at gsteele@battlecreekenquirer.com

This article originally appeared on Battle Creek Enquirer: Police chase prompts temporary lockdown of Post-Franklin Elementary Friday