The New York State Police are actively searching for this man, Jose I. Gonzalez, 53 of Norwich, in relation to an incident that occurred at Fred’s Inn in the Town of Norwich last week. (Submitted photo)

NORWICH – State Police are asking for the public’s assistance in locating Jose I. Gonzalez following an incident last week that sent two to the hospital and inadvertently caused a lockdown at a local school district.

According to New York State Police Troop C Public Information Officer Aga Dembinska, law enforcement are looking to speak with Gonzalez in connection with a domestic related incident that occurred in Chenango County last week.

Dembinska said at around 10 a.m. on April 14 New York State Police at Norwich responded to a domestic related incident involving three people at Fred’s Inn in the Town of Norwich.

“An investigation at the scene revealed that two people were assaulted resulting in minor injuries,” she said. “Both were taken to Chenango Memorial Hospital by Norwich Fire ambulance and have since been treated and released.”

This incident was confirmed to have caused a shutdown at the Norwich City School Districts, although Dembinska said it wasn’t ordered by state police.

Norwich City School District Superintendent Scott Ryan said after hearing reports of the incident, a staff member had noticed students talking to an unidentified male out front of the high school.

“There was a crime committed on Rt 12 South and word had spread that the suspect had fled north,” said Ryan. “Simultaneously but unrelated, a staff member saw an unidentifiable non-school aged male fraternizing with students at both the high school and middle school during arrival, close to our entry doors.”

“As you can imagine, staff began connecting the two incidents resulting in a district lockdown.”

Ryan said the Norwich Police Department was involved and within seconds had the campuses secured. He said safety is the number one priority and while the lockdown may have caused some anxiety the school did what it could to ensure the children and staff were safe.

“I am very aware of the anxiety that a lockdown creates,” said Ryan. “While we now know the incidents were unrelated, we waited until consulting with the Norwich Police Department before we lifted the lockdown.”

Dembinska asked that if you have information related to this incident, please contact New York State Police at (607) 561-7400 and reference case number 10172849.