Burglary Suspect Apprehended After Foot Pursuit

EVERGREEN PARK, IL — Update, 11:05 a.m. -- A suspect is in custody after a pursuit that prompted Evergreen Park Dist. 124 schools to go on soft lockdown as a precautionary measure before school started Tuesday morning.

The incident stemmed for a manhunt that began in Merrionette Parkaround 4 a.m. ABC 7 reported that the man took off from a car that had a lot of ammunition inside.

The suspect ran from West 117th Street and South Homan Avenue all the way to Evergreen Park. He was apprehended around 9 a.m. He was termed armed and dangerous.

Captain Peter Donovan, of the Evergreen Park Police Department, said the incident evolved from a burglary in Merrionette Park.

Alsip and Chicago police also helped in the manhunt, and K-9 was also employed in the search.

The man was taken into police custody in a backyard in the 3100 block of West 100th Street in Evergreen Park, Donovan said.

Residents, especially those living in the Evergreen Park area from 100th to 103rd Streets, and from Kedzie to Albany Avenues are being asked to call police if they find weapons or items from a possible burglary on their property.

“We think he may have been dropping stuff as he ran,” Donovan said. “He ran a long way.”

UPDATE, 9:16 a.m. -- Dist. 124 has been given the all-clear by the Evergreen Park Police Department.

"We're resuming the regular school day," D124 spokeswoman Claudia Parker said.

Patch editor Tim Moran is on the scene. He said that Chicago police squads and a CPD police wagon are on 100th Street, which continues to be blocked off east of Kedzie Avenue.

Most Holy Redeemer School did not receive notification from police to go on soft lockdown, but a staff person said they are not letting children out of the building.

A police source said the incident stemmed from a Merrionette Park incident and that a suspect has been taken into custody.

Original story, 8:55 a.m. -- Evergreen Park’s grammar schools were placed on soft lockdown early Tuesday morning as police searched for an offender. The Dist. 124 schools — Southeast, Southwest, Northeast, Northwest and Central Middle School — were placed on soft lockdown as a precaution.

“No students are in danger,” D124 spokeswoman Claudia Parker said.

Students being dropped off for school were immediately ushered into the building. Normal school day routines were carrying on as usual.

“Students will probably not be going out for recess,” Parker said.

Dist. 124 issued the following statement: