Mason County Schools were under lockdown for a brief period of time Thursday as law enforcement officials searched for a fugitive.
Mason County Sheriff Patrick Boggs said the incident actually began overnight in the Orangeburg community when a man, identified as Malcolm Walker of Maysville, assaulted a female and held her against her will. The female later drove Walker to the Quality Inn on U.S. 62/68 where he again assaulted the woman, Boggs said.
A bystander who attempted to help the victim was peppered sprayed by Walker, Boggs said.
The lockdown came out of a an abundance of caution, Boggs said, and no students were ever in danger.
According to information posted on social media by the school district about 9 a.m., Thursday, “A few minutes ago, we received notification from law enforcement indicating they were attempting to apprehend an individual around a local hotel. Given the proximity to all of our schools we decided to go on a precautionary lockdown. No students are in danger.”
Boggs said the lockdown worked exactly like it was designed to. He was in one of the schools at the time the lockdown was initiate and said it worked exactly as designed.
“I want to compliment the staff and students,” Boggs said. “The planning and all the drills they’ve done really paid off.”
He said an officer was in every school when the lockdown was in effect.
Once it was determined that Walker was out of the area, the lockdown was called off, Boggs said.
He described Walker as a African American male, 22 years old, with brown hair and brown eyes. He was last seen wearing a plain gray hoodie, red, white and black basketball shorts and no shorts. Boggs said he believed he may have gotten a ride out of the area.
Early Thursday afternoon, Walker was apprehended on U.S. 68/62 in the area of Lee’s Famous Recipe, Boggs said.
Boggs said he arrested Walker in December on violation of a Kentucky EPO/DVO.
