LOUDON, Tenn. (WATE) - Three Loudon County schools were placed on soft lockdown for a time Thursday afternoon while police searched for a suspect they say ran from them. The search has since been called off because the suspect was believed to have left the area.

The Loudon County Sheriff's Office says they were assisting Loudon Police Department to look for Ricky Burnett, a suspect with felony warrants who ran from them in the area of Highway 72 and Grove Street.

Burnett was last seen wearing a grey shirt, jeans and a baseball cap. Officers say they saw Burnett on his way to work for a local tree service and tried to serve a warrant. He spoke with officers for a few moments but ran when they said they had a warrant.

Officers tased Burnett, but he escaped. He was last seen going into a wooded area near Grove Street and Highway 72.

Loudon Elementary, Ft. Loudoun Middle and Loudon High were all placed on soft lockdown as a precaution, but the areas around the school were declared safe around 3:20 p.m. Law enforcement assisted with the dismissal of students.

Anyone with information should call 911.