Evanston Home Invader Threatens Resident With Knife: Police

EVANSTON, IL — Evanston police this week arrested a man suspected of breaking down the door to a home and threatening residents with a knife.

Authorities received a report of a burglary in progress on March 10 at a home in the 500 block of Chicago Avenue. The homeowner told police that a man kicked in their back door and got inside.

When the resident saw the intruder in the kitchen, he was reaching for a knife from a countertop knife block and making threats, police said. All of the people inside the home barricaded themselves in a different room and waited for the police to arrive.

The residents were not injured in the incident.

When officers arrived at the home, they found the man, identified as 32-year-old Justin Hernandez, by the back door inside the home with blood dripping down his left arm coming from a severe injury.

Officers applied a tourniquet to Hernandez's arm to stop the bleeding and took him to a nearby hospital.

According to the police department, Hernandez said he did not remember when or how the injury happened. He was released from medical care and was arrested by detectives on Wednesday.

The Cook County State's Attorney's Office reviewed the case and approved one felony charge for home invasion.

Hernandez is due back in court in early April.