HOMER GLEN, Ill. () — A reported home invasion in Darien led to a large SWAT response Tuesday in Homer Glen, where authorities said a suspect barricaded himself inside a home on Maverick Trail for several hours.
The scene brought heavily armed officers and armored vehicles into a typically quiet neighborhood, drawing the attention of residents as the standoff stretched from the afternoon into the evening.
“Coming out and seeing the SWAT trucks and the SWAT people is pretty crazy. I mean, anybody would see that and be like, ‘What’s going on?'” said Homer Glen resident Donny Mutzbauer.
Police said the incident began around 2 p.m. at a home in the 1400-block of Sequoia Drive in Darien, where a home invasion was reported. A front window at the house was broken, and investigators said one victim was taken to a hospital with injuries that were not considered life-threatening.
According to Darien police, officers initially followed the suspect but called off the pursuit near Bell Road and 143rd Street in Homer Glen, a few miles from where the barricade later unfolded.
Authorities later tracked the suspect to a residence in the 13200-block of Maverick Trail, prompting the SWAT deployment and barricade response.
Witnesses said the suspect stayed inside the home for hours, at times briefly coming outside as police remained positioned around the property.
“Kind of like a nonchalant kind of like vibe he’s kind of giving, like coming out, opening the garage, shutting it, opening it. Open the front door, just different, like it’s weird,” said Homer Glen resident Steven Pressley.
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During the standoff, officers repeatedly issued warnings over a bullhorn.
“Come to the front door with your hands up and nothing in your hands or force will be used against you,” an officer announced.
Officers also warned that chemical munitions would be deployed.
As evening approached, SWAT officers were seen towing a vehicle from the driveway and later forcing open a garage door. Police also used a battering ram to break a window.
Residents said the incident was unusual for the area.
“It’s pretty crazy. I mean, especially out here, this is a really nice part, especially Homer Glen. You don’t hear a lot of stuff like this go on,” Mutzbauer said.
The standoff remained active through the evening. Police did not appear to enter the home on Tuesday night.
The Will County Sheriff’s Office asked residents living on Maverick Trail to shelter in place earlier Tuesday. That request has since been lifted, but police still asked residents to avoid the area.
