HERTFORD, N.C. – Deputies have arrested a man after two officers were injured during a pursuit on Wednesday.
The Perquimans County Sheriff’s Office says thanks to several tips from citizens, Travis Bryce Searcy was taken into custody in the Holiday Island area without incident. Authorities served him with 13 warrants and put him under a $250,000 secured bond.
Around 12:30 p.m. Wednesday, officials received a call regarding gunshots fired near the Stokes Drive & King Street area of Hertford.
Hertford Police and the Perquimans Sheriff’s Office immediately responded to the location. They were able to confirm that gunshots had been fired and at 12:35 p.m., both Perquimans County High School and Hertford Grammar School were placed on a modified lockdown.
Travis Bryce Searcy
While responding to the first call, another call came in.
At 1:23 p.m., officials received a call reporting a fight near an apartment complex on Stokes Drive. Officers spotted Searcy, who was known to have outstanding warrants, near the time of the second call.
Officers arrived on scene, and Searcy fled into the wooded area between an apartment complex and Perquimans County High School.
Perquimans County High School was placed on full lockdown for the safety of students and staff around 2:04 p.m. Searcy moved on foot between an apartment complex, Jimmy Hunter Drive, King Street and Dobbs Street, reports say.
During the pursuit, two officers were injured. Both were transported to a local hospital with non-life-threatening injuries and have since been released.
Perquimans County Schools Superintendent released this statement regarding the incident:
Shortly after 12:30 pm today, Perquimans Schools were notified by law enforcement of shots fired on King Street. As a precaution, HGS and PCHS were advised to operate on a modified lockdown. At approximately 1:29 pm, law enforcement was in pursuit of the suspect in question behind the high school in the area of the softball field. Due to the proximity of the suspect to the school, the decision was made to move PCHS into a full lockdown. For this reason, there was a delay in dismissal of all students in order to ensure safe transportation home. The school system worked with law enforcement during the entire event in order to keep students, faculty and staff safe. Tomorrow, schools will operate on a normal schedule with increased law enforcement presence in the Hertford area.
