Vicksburg and Warren junior high schools were locked down for a little more than an hour Friday until city and federal authorities found a local man wanted in Georgia for violating his probation.

Around 3:15 p.m., Vicksburg police, the Mississippi Department of Corrections and Mississippi Bureau of Narcotics arrested Joseph Parson, 22, 2109 Oak St., in the 1100 block of First North Street.

&#8220He is a convicted felon for statutory rape in Georgia,” said Sgt. Tom Wilson, one of the arresting officers for the Vicksburg Police Department. &#8220Georgia issued a warrant because he violated his probation.”

Vicksburg Police Lt. Billy Brown said U.S. marshals were chasing Parson near Baldwin Ferry Road, the location of both schools, when local police learned federal agents were trying to serve a warrant.

&#8220Given the close proximity to the schools, the school resource officers were notified that we were looking for a guy around Baldwin Ferry Road,” Brown said.

That’s when Vicksburg Junior High and Warren Junior High were locked down, about 1 p.m., said Dr. James Price, superintendent of the Vicksburg Warren School District.

&#8220The (school resource officers) at both junior highs said it would be best to go into high alert,” he said. &#8220We locked those buildings down so he wouldn’t end up with our kids.”

By 2:15, students and parents were allowed to leave the campuses.

Vicksburg Junior High principal Michael Winters said both schools responded well to the lockdown.

&#8220I don’t think it could’ve gotten any better,” he said. &#8220Everybody followed procedures as planned, and there were no incidents.”

Cedric Magee, Warren Junior High’s principal, agreed.

&#8220They did an excellent job – the teachers, the students” and all involved in the lockdown, he said. &#8220In a situation like that, we have certain procedures that we do, and those teachers followed those procedures to the letter.”

Patrolman Randy Naylor, a resource officer at Vicksburg Junior High, said students were not allowed into hallways during the lockdown.

&#8220We’ve got to protect our kids,” he said, adding the measure was precautionary and that everyone was safe. &#8220That’s the name of the game.”