A routine traffic stop in Joliet turned into a tense neighborhood standoff Monday afternoon, after a driver bolted from deputies, crashed, and barricaded themself inside a nearby home. The sudden chaos forced a school and daycare into lockdown and shut down several streets as officers flooded the area.
"A school and a daycare in Joliet have been placed on lockdown after a driver fleeing police barricaded themselves inside a nearby home," according to CBS Chicago. Just before 1 p.m., Will County Sheriff's deputies tried to pull over a car in the 200 block of Romayne Avenue. The driver allegedly crashed, ran off, and went into a nearby house, where they barricaded themself inside, the outlet reports.
Lockdowns And Road Closures
Marycrest School and Mary Sears Children's Academy, along with the administrative building for Joliet Township High School District 204, were placed on lockdown while deputies worked the scene, according to CBS Chicago. Police urged residents and drivers to steer clear of Joyce Road between Jefferson Street and McDonough Street as crews set up a perimeter and worked to secure the area.
What Remains Unclear
Authorities had not released the driver's identity or said whether anyone was injured. It was also not immediately clear whether the person was still inside the home or had already been taken into custody. Local officials had not provided further details at the time of reporting, and this story will be updated as soon as additional official information is released.
