Batavia Barricade Situation Ends Peacefully Tuesday Night

An eight-hour barricade situation that resulted in a lockdown at two Batavia schools and forced residents in the area to stay inside ended peacefully Tuesday night, police said.

Batava Police and the Kane County SWAT team were called to a home in the 800 block of Roberts Lane Tuesday afternoon for a report of a man who was despondent, was threatening to harm himself and ”had access to a number of firearms.” The man refused to leave the residence, according to a Batavia Police Department press release. He was eventually taken into protective custody at 8:30 p.m. and taken to the hospital for a mental evaluation.

The barricade situation prompted Batavia High School and Alice Gustafson Elementary School to be placed on a soft lockdown. Parents were allowed to pick up their children after 4:15 p.m., according to the news release.

Also, residents living in the 700 and 800 blocks or Roberts Lane were told by police not to return to their homes and residents who were home at the time of the barricade situation were ordered to stay inside and lock their doors, the Daily Herald reports. Residents were allowed to return to their homes after 8:30 p.m.

Police made initial contact with the man barricaded inside of his home but were unable to establish any contact with him after 2:30 p.m., according to the news release.

“After several hours and numerous attempts to reinitiate contact with the subject, the determination was made to enter the residence in an attempt to reestablish contact and check the well being of the despondent subject,” according to the news release.

Police found the man inside and placed him in protective custody. No criminal charges are pending and the incident remains under investigation.

Police apologized to the public for the inconvenience placed on many in the area of the barricade situation Tuesday.

“(The) Batavia Police Department is aware that this incident caused a significant inconvenience to area residents and students and extends our appreciation for their understanding and cooperation, which assisted us in bringing this incident to a peaceful resolution,” according to the news release.

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