A Weldon man has been charged in a metal theft case which led to Weldon Elementary School being put on lockdown earlier this week.

Captain James Avens of the Weldon Police Department said on Tuesday shortly before 10:45 a.m. a concerned neighbor called to report they saw two young men exiting from behind a vacant house on West Seventh Street carrying bags which appeared to contain copper pipes and wire.

When Avens arrived he noticed a person identified as Motique D. Jackson, 18, walking.

Jackson was dirty, as if he had just come from under a house, Avens said. He was carrying a bag of tools and was frisked for weapons. No weapons were found but police did recover marijuana.

Jackson was arrested and handcuffed and placed in Officer B.L. Lufkin’s patrol car. Jackson, however, moved his hands from behind to his front and kicked out the rear window of the patrol car and fled. Officers were processing the crime scene as this occurred, Avens said.

Officers pursued Jackson, who ran through the Weldon Elementary School parking lot, on foot, which put the school on lockdown.

After a two hour search with assistance from the Halifax County Sheriff’s Office, Avens spotted Jackson, still in handcuffs, walking in front of the Weldon Pre-K building and gave chase again, this time capturing him.

Avens said it is not clear what Jackson did during the two hours he walked around with the cuffs on.

Jackson was charged with a drug violation, breaking and entering, two counts of damage to property, two counts of resist delay and obstruct, possession of burglary tools and larceny.

He was jailed on $20,000 bond and has an April 13 court date.