NEW HARTFORD — Several New Hartford schools were placed on lockouts as a precaution following a pair of suspicious incidents involving men spotted with firearms on Pearl Street Monday morning, according to the New Hartford Police Department.

Police said an officer on patrol spotted a suspicious vehicle parked on Pearl Street at about 2:23 a.m. Monday. The vehicle had Louisiana license plates and was parked in front of a residence with the driver side door open. When officers approached the vehicle, they said one man jumped out and fled behind a nearby residence, while a passenger in the vehicle climbed into the driver's seat and sped off northbound on Pearl Street.

The officers gave chase and attempted to pull over the vehicle, only for the car to crash into a tree on Genesee Street. Two people inside the vehicle fled on foot and officers continued the chase.

One man threw a .40-caliber Taurus handgun onto the roof of the Berkshire Bank while they passed. He surrendered and was taken into custody, police said. The loaded handgun was later retrieved from the bank roof.

The man, a 17-year-old from Utica, is charged with one count each of criminal possession of a loaded firearm and fourth-degree possession of a weapon, police said. His identity was not released due to his young age. He is scheduled to appear in New Hartford Town Court.

At about 8:45 a.m. Monday, police said a Black male was spotted in a back yard on Pearl Street. The resident confronted him and the man said he was looking for a cellphone he had lost in her yard the night before. Police said the resident watched as the man reached under a fence and grabbed what appeared to be a handgun. The man then left the area on foot.

Responding officers searched Pearl Street, with assistance from a K9 unit from the Utica Police Department. Police said they were unable to locate the suspect or any further weapons.

During the search, New Hartford High School and Bradley Elementary School, along with other nearby pre-schools, were put on temporary lockout by school officials as a precaution, authorities said. Some schools lifted the lockout at 10:15 a.m., while other schools will remain under lockout until their normal dismissal times. Police said they maintained a presence in the area as a precaution as well.

The two incidents remain under investigation.