🚨 Suspect fleeing police triggered a Plew Elementary lockdown.
🏃 Nathaniel Pate scaled a campus fence before running to Zaxby’s.
👮 Arrest made without injuries; multiple warrants pending.
NICEVILLE — Plew Elementary School was placed on lockdown Wednesday afternoon after a man fleeing police jumped the campus fence before being arrested at a nearby restaurant, authorities said.
Niceville police were serving a warrant around 3 p.m. at a residence on 26th Street when the suspect, identified as Nathaniel Pate, ran from officers and scaled a fence onto the school’s property, Chief Mark Hayse of the Niceville Police Department told Mid Bay News.
The school was immediately secured as officers pursued Pate, who then fled across John Sims Parkway to a Zaxby’s restaurant, where he was taken into custody without further incident.
Pate is charged with trespassing on school property and two counts of resisting arrest without violence. Hayse said multiple other warrants from other counties are also pending against him.
No injuries were reported during the incident. The lockdown was lifted once Pate was in custody.
In a text message alert from Heather Phillips, the assistant principal of Plew Elementary School, she thanked both the Niceville Police Department and the Okaloosa County Sheriff’s Office for their swift action in Wednesday’s situation.
“Saftey is our top priority,” Phillips said.
This is a developing story and will be updated when information becomes available.
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