Evanston police secure area where 'disturbed' person was believed to be barricaded
Lincoln, Park, Nichols and Chiaravelle schools were put on soft lockdown, police say
EVANSTON, Ill. (WLS) -- There was a heavy police presence in north suburban Evanston Friday as police searched for an "emotionally disturbed" person suspected to be barricaded in an apartment building.
Evanston police said the area around Michigan and Main Street had been "secured" around 6:30 p.m.
Police said the entered the individual's residence in the late afternoon and they were not present.
Police said they responded to the reports about an "emotionally disturbed" person involved in a battery shortly before 1 p.m.
When they got to the scene, they found the person may have fled or may have returned to a residential unit inside the building. While no shots were fired as part of the incident, police said the presence of firearms in the person's home and the emotional state of the person prompted police to issue a soft lockdown for Lincoln Elementary school nearby in the 900-block of Michigan.
At about 2:18 p.m., police said all schools and daycares except Lincoln, Park, Nichols and Chiaravelle schools could lift their lockdowns. Evanston police officers were present during dismissal at those schools Friday afternoon.
No threats were made against Evanston schools, and the soft lockdown advisory was a precautionary measure, police said. During a soft lockdown, teachers lock their doors and continue teaching. Parents do not need to take any action.
There is no shelter in place order and police said they do not believe there is a danger to the general public, but they do encourage residents to call 911 to report any safety issues or suspicious behavior.
