The robber walked into the Bank Of The West in Redfield around 11:15 Friday morning and then ran off on foot.

That's when the school and some other area businesses went into lockdown.

Law enforcement says the robber walked in holding a gun demanded money. Law enforcement officials are conducting an extensive search and started asking around the community.

Ivan White lives across the street from the bank. He says, "when he came to the door he asked if we had seen anything or anyone by that time everyone knew that something had happened. You can't drive by a bank and see 75 police cars and 50 vehicles and not know something is going on."

And some were too close for comfort.

"I can look out my apartment window and see the back door of the bank pretty clearly and I never noticed it until today," said White.

Once the school learned that a bank robber was on the loose they contacted parents by automated voice service telling them the school was on lockdown.

Resident Leslie Blair says, "It's kind of scary seeing all the SWAT team people and dogs. It's something the community doesn't have around. It's good they came together like that so fast."

And the community is hoping the fast action will help catch the criminal.

He is described as a white man, at least 6 feet tall and weighing 300 pounds with short blond hair, sideburns and a goatee.

He was wearing blue jeans and a grayish green jacket.