PROSSER -- A 15-minute car chase that started in Grandview and forced Prosser schools to be locked down for almost an hour Wednesday ended with the arrest of one man.

Prosser students were kept in their classrooms, with doors locked, about 45 minutes beyond the scheduled release time because of the chase, Superintendent Ray Tolcacher told the Herald. He credited the district's teachers and staff for acting quickly to protect students.

"In about five minutes, every single school was locked down," Tolcacher said.

Officials with the Grandview Police Department said the chase started at 1:15 p.m. when the suspect, a 31-year-old man whose name wasn't released, reportedly was seen driving recklessly by Grandview officers.

The driver refused to pull over and headed out of town, driving east on Wine Country Road, said Grandview police.

Benton County sheriff's deputies and Prosser police joined the pursuit and it ended at 1:30 p.m. near an apartment complex a couple of blocks from Prosser Heights Elementary School.

The driver jumped out of the car and ran but was found hiding a short time later, said police.

Tolcacher said he was contacted at 1:25 p.m. by law enforcement officials and told to lock down the schools because students were due to be released 10 minutes later.

He said the staff quickly secured the buildings to prevent anyone from getting inside or leaving. The lockdown was lifted at 2:15 p.m. once police told Tolcacher it was safe.

Grandview police officials said no one was hurt in the chase. Officers continued to search the area around the apartment complex up to an hour after the chase.

-- Ty Beaver: 582-1402; tbeaver@tricityherald.com