Chariton County Sheriff’s Office searches for driver of stolen vehicle; lockdown held Wednesday for Salisbury R-4 school district

SALISBURY, Mo. (KMIZ)

The Chariton County Sheriff's Office is searching for the driver of a stolen vehicle that resulted in the Salisbury R-4 School District going on a soft lockdown on Wednesday.

According to a social media post from the sheriff's office, a deputy tried to pull over a vehicle Wednesday afternoon on Highway 129, south of Salisbury. The suspect was driving north towards the city and did not stop.

The vehicle was later found near 7th Street and South Hutchinson in Salisbury without the driver, according to the post. The sheriff's office states the vehicle was stolen from Columbia. A K-9 unit from Linn County was called to help with the search, the post reads.

At 8 p.m. Wednesday, the Sheriff's Office said in a post on Facebook they have identified the suspect and believe they left the Salisbury area.

The school district said on its social media it went into a soft lockdown after receiving information from the joint communications.

"No students or staff members were in danger as a result of the incident that prompted these procedures," Superintendent Jared Wallace said in a post on Facebook.

ABC 17 News has reached out to the Chariton County Sheriff's Office.