Update 4:25 p.m.: Evanston police say they have a suspect in custody who tried to evade officers who found him inside a vacant home in the 1300 block of Asbury Avenue just before 3 p.m. this afternoon.
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Police Cmdr. Joseph Dugan says the 25-year-old man resisted officers who tried to arrest him inside the three-story stucco home located in the Ridge Historic District. Police used a Taser to try to subdue him, Dugan says, but he pulled out what appeared to be a gun and waved it at the officers.
Deputy Chief Jay Parrott and Chief Richard Eddington at the incident scene on Asbury.
With that, Dugan says, the officers fired two shots at the fleeing suspect but missed him As he ran off, other officers also fired shots as they chased after the suspect who was finally captured in the 1300 block of Greenwood Street.
Police in the 1300 block of Greenwood, where the suspect was taken into custody.
Police then searched the home but found no one else inside.
Traffic was blocked on several streets surrounding the scene for about an hour until police were able to clear the area.
Dugan says charges are pending against the man in custody. Officers are also examining the weapon they recovered from him to determine whether it’s a real semi-automatic handgun or a replica.
Dugan says officers involved were shaken up, but not physically injured in the incident.
Update 6:40 p.m.: Cmdr. Dugan says evidence technicians have determined that the gun recovered was a BB gun that has the same appearance as a handgun.
Marksman training needed
While I applaud the effort and risk to capture this individual, i would like to address the shots being fired. I understand why they discharged them but the fact that they did not hit him is a concern. A friend of mine who lives near by has bullet holes through their fence and parts of the house. Had my friend been outside they would have been killed. At least give them some proper marksman training. and more than a couple where discharged, the place was sprayed with bullets. easily could have led to a civilian being struck
Terrible shots in the heat of the moment
Studies have found that even well-trained officers are terrible shots in the heat of the moment. That's why I think it's a bad idea to have a bunch of civilians walking around with guns.