What is usually a pretty uneventful stretch of Tinley Park near 163rd Street and Ridgeland Avenue turned tense on Sunday, as police swarmed a nearby wooded area looking for a man who allegedly ditched a stolen car and bolted into the brush.
Officers urged neighbors to steer clear of the intersection while they combed the woods and surrounding property. Residents were also asked to stay alert and report anything that looked off as the search unfolded.
According to FOX 32 Chicago, police said the vehicle involved was reported stolen and that the driver ran toward the wooded area after abandoning it near 163rd and Ridgeland. The station reported that details came from information provided by Village of Tinley Park Public Safety officials.
Police Description and How to Report
In a notice from the Village of Tinley Park Public Safety, officials described the suspect as a man wearing a black hoodie and a facemask. The public was asked to avoid the 163rd and Ridgeland area while officers were on the ground conducting the search.
The village notice also pointed residents to local emergency alert options and listed a tipline for anyone with information related to the incident: 708-444-5300.
Local Context and Alerts
South suburban communities occasionally lock things down during active searches to keep people out of harm's way. A similar manhunt in the area led to a shelter-in-place advisory last September, a reminder that these alerts are becoming a familiar part of local public safety playbooks.
For those who want updates without having to scroll social media, residents can sign up for Tinley Park's official emergency notification system to get alerts directly from the village.
Officials did not immediately release any information about an arrest or the suspect's identity. FOX 32 Chicago carries the latest public report, and village officials have said they will share more details as the situation develops.
