An apparent barricade situation is ongoing in Oak Park on Thursday evening, according to police and witnesses.
The situation, which involved an individual “in distress” began about 2:30 p.m. on the 1100 block of North Harlem Avenue on its Oak Park side, according to police.
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Charles Shapera, executive director of Har Zion synagogue, 1040 N. Harlem Ave. in River Forest, said police asked them about 3 p.m. to move the children from their preschool, located in the synagogue, to nearby Concordia University.
“There’s some standoff with police,” Shapera said the officers told them.
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None of the children were injured and they were not told of the situation.
“The children knew nothing. It was like a field trip,” Shapera said, adding how unusual it was. “We have not experienced this in the past.”
Albert Popowits lives in a condo along Harlem Avenue in the blocked-off area. He said at about 5:30 p.m. that the situation remained ongoing.
“I’ve never seen to many police cars and ambulances in my life,” Popowits said. They cars had all their lights flashing and were parked “end to end” from Division to Augusta streets.
Asked if he was frightened by the activity, Popowits said he was not frightened “at all” and residents in his 30 unit condo building were not asked to leave.
“It’s exciting — not a boring day,” he said.
