Pryor Tech Center Cancels Evening Classes Due To Manhunt

A manhunt in Mayes County caused officials to put some schools on lockdown as a precaution. 

The Sheriff's Office was searching for a man near the Pryor campus of the Northeast Technology Center on Highway 20. 

The man was believed to be in some woods west of the school. Osage Elementary school was also on lockdown for a while Tuesday afternoon.

Northeast Technology Center canceled classes for Tuesday night because of the disruption. Staff and students have been allowed to leave. Officers checked the buses before any students got on.

Staff were escorted from the building just before 5 p.m.

According to Mayes County Sheriff Mike Reed, deputies responded to a man who crashed a vehicle on the side of the road. Reed said family members told them the man had a firearm and wanted to harm himself.

Reed said they set up a perimeter and were able to ping the man's phone, confirming he was within the perimeter. He said they will look for him as long as they can.

"We'll take it step by step. We're not gonna leave a gentleman out here that is in need of assistance by any stretch of the imagination. We'll be here for however long it takes to resolve the issue," Reed said.

Reed said the man has been in contact with his girlfriend, and deputies are trying to communicate with him.

Reed said family members said the man had been drinking and was on some type of medication.