Police in coastal Georgia say a sex offender who prompted lockdowns at three schools near Savannah has been arrested.

Savannah-Chatham Metropolitan Police spokesman Julian Miller said Wednesday that 40-year-old James Dover was taken into custody behind a house.

Police said they had reason to believe the suspect was on Whitemarsh Island , so they placed Islands High School, Coastal Middle School and Marshpoint Elementary School on lockdown.

Police have said the man was wanted in connection with sexual abuse of a 13-year-old girl. WTOC-TV reported that Dover jumped out of his car and ran into the woods as police were chasing him. The man was taken into custody after a search that lasted for about four hours.

It was not immediately clear if Dover had an attorney.

Tags: Savannah, sex offender, school lockdown