GARDEN CITY, N.Y. — Things are back to normal at seven Long Island schools that were placed on a short “lockout” while police searched for a criminal suspect in the area.

Access to Garden City’s high school, middle school, two elementary schools and three primary schools was halted for about two hours Monday after police notified officials of the search. Police believe the suspect in an old assault case has since fled.

Garden City Schools Superintendent Robert Fiersen says a lockout allowed students and teachers to proceed with educational activities, including moving from class to class in the high school. He says a lockdown would have prevented any movement within the schools. A local nursery school also was affected.

Garden City is an upper-middle class community, located about 20 miles east of New York City.