Theft suspect arrested after manhunt by Person County authorities
Authorities in Person County arrested Allen Brandon Thursday afternoon, after Brandon stole multiple vehicles, a gun and a police scanner earlier in the morning.
This was a multi-agency effort between the Roxboro Police Department and the Person County Sheriff's Office. Roxboro police arrested Brandon around 4 p.m. Thursday without incident.
The Person County Sheriff's Office had been searching for Brandon since Thursday morning. Brandon led police on a chase after ramming a police car at a traffic stop, which ended in wreck. Brandon escaped on foot near South Elementary, Southern Middle School and Early Intervention.
According to the Person County Sheriff's Office, Brandon stole a car in Halifax, Virginia, and crashed it on Boston Road. Allen refused treatment at the hospital, at which point he stole another vehicle, a gun and a police scanner before the chase with Person County authorities
The schools went on soft lockdown after Brandon escaped. Soft lock downs allow students to continue learning while remaining safe, according to Person County Sheriff Jason Wilborn.
"The kids are still having instruction in the classroom, but they're not leaving the classroom," Wilborn said. "They're staying in the classroom and teachers are able to fulfill the day."
Some the parents are very familiar with the road the second wreck happened on.
"The road I cut through to get to middle school," said Amanda Knott, a mother of two Southern Middle School students. "I drove right up on it."
Brandon had a previous criminal history in Halifax County, Viginia, with a string of charges and convictions ranging from larceny to assault and battery.
Despite the lockdowns and the suspect's prior criminal history, parents were confident in the police's ability to track down Brandon and keep their kids safe.
"To be honest, I'm not worried," said Megan Gilbert, mother of a sixth-grader at Southern Middle School. "Person County Sheriff's Office and the city, they know what they're doing."
"I felt my kids were safe," Knott said. "I know our sheriff's [office] and police department is going to look after our kids."
