LENOIR CITY (WATE) – Two Loudon County schools were briefly put on a soft lockdown Tuesday afternoon while deputies searched for a home burglary suspect.

The Loudon County Sheriff’s Office says around 1:30 p.m., they were called to a burglary in the 14000 block of Hickory Creek Road. The suspect had fled.

Deputies spotted the vehicle around Eaton Cross Roads and after a short chase, the suspect got out of the vehicle and ran into a wooded area around Hines Valley Road and Gentry Road.

Officers set up a perimeter and put Eaton Elementary and and North Middle schools on soft lockdown. Deputies were able to quickly locate the suspect and take him into custody. Both schools resumed normal classes after only a short time.