El Paso police are assisting in a manhunt for a suspect that allegedly escaped from a bailiff serving an arrest warrant, officials said.

Helicopters and police units are searching the Kern Place area in West El Paso. The suspect ran from a 384 district court bailiff, officials said.

The arrest warrant was for a probation violation.

Officials from the 384 district court were not available to comment.

Mesita Elementary School was placed on a lockout but not a lock down, officials from the El Paso Independent School District said. A lockout is when children aren't allowed outside, the doors are locked, and the students are released only to parents that are recognized.

"We did have extra police there just as a precaution," an El Paso Independent School District spokeswoman said. "I would say there was a situation in the neighborhood. I know El Paso police were working on it. Since it was in the neighborhood we did a lockout as a precaution."


Andrew Kreighbaum contributed to this story.