SANTA CLARA COUNTY (KRON) — A manhunt is underway for a robbery suspect in the Santa Cruz Mountains Thursday morning.
Santa Clara County sheriff’s deputies are searching the rural community of Redwood Estates, which is under a shelter in place.
Highway 17 was shut down in both directions in the search area, according to the California Highway Patrol.
The southbound lanes reopened just after 8 p.m. Just 20 minutes later, CHP officers reopened all lanes of Highway 17.
The suspect allegedly robbed a bank in Scotts Valley before fleeing north from the city.
Object of manhunt in Santa Cruz Mtns allegedly robbed this bank in Scotts Valley Cops chased suspect on N Bound Highway 17 to RedwoodEstates pic.twitter.com/alXM30gcBf
— @Rob Fladeboe kron4 (@KRON4RFladeboe) January 26, 2017
Sheriff’s officials also told a local school district that there had been a shooting involving an officer in the area.
The search started sometime before 10:50 a.m., which is when sheriff’s officials locked down Lexington Elementary School, located off of state Highway 17 north of Redwood Estates.
The school’s principal was told to keep students inside, and parents are not being allowed to pick up their children until further notice, according to Los Gatos Union School District Superintendent Diana Abbati.
At 11:16 a.m., sheriff’s officials advised locals to avoid the area or shelter in place.
The lockdown of the elementary school was lifted at 12:04 p.m. Lexington Elementary School was told to resume it’s regular classroom activities.
The suspect is described as a male wearing a black jacket and dark jeans, sheriff’s officials said. He was wearing a black mask at the time of the robbery, which originated in Santa Cruz County.
If you have any information on the suspect’s whereabouts, call the Santa Clara County Sheriff’s Office.
Deps. are engaged in an active search for a robbery suspect in the area of Redwood Estates. Stay clear of the area or shelter in place.
— SantaClaraCoSheriff (@SCCoSheriff) January 26, 2017
Robbery suspect described as male, black jacket, dark jeans & with a black mask at the time of the robbery which originated in Santa Cruz Co
— SantaClaraCoSheriff (@SCCoSheriff) January 26, 2017
SB 17 traffic being diverted to Bear Creek Rd. And NB traffic being diverted onto Summit Rd. Closed due to police activity, expect delays
— CHP Santa Cruz (@CHPscrz) January 26, 2017