False Report Of Armed Hostage-Taking Closes Downtown Evanston Streets

EVANSTON, IL — A false report of a hostage situation in downtown Evanston briefly led to street closures Tuesday afternoon as officers responded, police said.

Around 2:15 p.m., Evanston police were dispatched to an apartment building the 1600 block of Hinman Avenue, where an elderly 911 caller said her son had taken people hostage with a knife, Sgt. Ken Carter told Patch.

Police shut down surrounding streets, as is the protocol for handling people who are armed and barricaded.

Officers arrived at the building and spoke to both the caller and her son but did not report finding any sign of hostages.

"Our investigation did not determine any credible evidence of such," Carter said. "Then it was later determined that the caller suffers from dementia."

Police gave the all-clear to open streets within a half-hour of the initial report.

Carter said the caller was subsequently taken to a local hospital for a psychiatric evaluation.