A man in North Chicago threatened Lake County sheriff’s deputies with explosives Monday after they tried to evict him from his home, officials said.
The 58-year-old man, whose case was an exception from the eviction moratorium due to the pandemic, was notified in July that he had an eviction order for Aug. 9, the Lake County sheriff’s office said in a news release.
About 10 a.m. Monday, three sheriff’s deputies knocked on his apartment door, in the 1700 block of Sheridan Road. The man told them he knew why they were there and he was not going to leave, the sheriff’s office said.
The man then told the deputies he had a device rigged to the door and advised them to evacuate the building.
The deputies heard what they say sounded like slides of firearms, followed by a loud pop sound.
The deputies began evacuating the building, thinking the man had explosives in the apartment.
The Lake County sheriff’s tactical response team and North Chicago police responded and negotiators with the sheriff’s office spent more than an hour communicating with the man. The man told them he didn’t have explosives and only made the comment to keep the deputies out, the sheriff’s office said.
The man eventually surrendered, according to officials.
The Waukegan Fire Department bomb squad later responded to the scene. The pop sound is believed to have been a firework, the sheriff’s office said.
The man was taken to an area hospital for mental health evaluation but will likely face charges, according to the sheriff’s office.
More Top Picks Best Cooling Weighted Blankets For Hot Sleepers