Loose Cow Captured Following Senior Prank In Niles: Police

NILES, IL — For more than six hours Thursday morning, residents were waiting 'til the cow came home following a senior prank at Northridge Prep School that went wrong. According to police, students brought a cow and other live animals to the school, when the cow got loose and ran through a neighborhood.

Police responded to the 8300 block of Ballard Road at around 2:56 a.m. for a report of suspicious people in the area, who were later identified as students from the school. Following assistance from the Park Ridge Police Department and a representative from nearby Wagner Farm (Glenview), the cow was secured at around 9:15 a.m.

According to police, the animals were purchased via Craigslist by the students involved. A pig was purchased near Dixon and the cow was bought from Winneconne, Wisconsin. Chickens belonging to the students were also brought to the school.

Wagner Farm was unable to take the cow in, so it was instead taken to Hooved Animals Humane Society in Woodstock.

Police said Northridge Preparatory is conducting an internal investigation but will not pursue any criminal charges. The school is also managing the cleanup of animals at the school internally.

Police issued Village of Niles ordinance citations to the students, including curfew violation, disorderly conduct, animal feces accumulation (not permitted) and possession of prohibited animal species. The students will also appear in court.

Police were warning residents to avoid the area of Oakton Street and Cumberland Avenue during the incident. Local schools were also notified.