Man in custody, children released in barricade situation at Cicero Ave, 43rd Street

CHICAGO (WLS) -- A man was taken into police custody after barricading himself and two children inside a box truck on Cicero Avenue near 43rd Street. The incident closed the area to traffic near Midway Airport for more than an hour on Monday afternoon.

Shortly before turning himself in to officials, the man was seen handing a small child to police. Sources said another small child was handed to officials out of the truck's window earlier.

The situation began in nearby Bedford Park. Police in the southwestern suburb said a woman called 9-1-1 around 1:20 p.m. to report she, her two small children and two dogs were being held by her husband in the truck's cab in the 6500-block of 73rd Street. When officers responded, the man attempted to hit the officers with the vehicle, police said.

The woman was released and then a short vehicle pursuit followed. That ended in the 4400-block of Cicero Avenue in Chicago's Sleepy Hollow neighborhood. Once stopped, a female police officer from Bedford Park persuaded the man to hand over the younger of the children.

The Chicago Police Department's SWAT team was then called to the scene to assist Bedford Park. Officers persuaded the man to release his other child and two dogs, and then the man turned himself in to police without further incident.

Charges are pending in the case.

The situation closed traffic on Cicero from 43rd to 47th streets and the nearby I-55 ramps to and from Midway International Airport around 2 p.m. Both reopened by 3:15 p.m.