(WAUCONDA) An evacuation in north suburban Wauconda has been lifted and a suspect was in custody Thursday night as police searched his home after he told someone he had explosives inside, police said.
Residents were allowed to return home about 12:20 a.m. Friday after people living or working near the 400 block of Lake Shore Boulevard were asked to evacuate shortly after 8 p.m., according to Wauconda police.
Police received information that a resident may have explosives in his home on that block, and he was in custody as of 9:06 p.m.
The suspect, who “said he is terminally ill and hates politicians and the police,” made a threat to an employee at a business earlier Thursday, saying he wanted to lure police to his home, then set off explosives, police said in a post on their Facebook page.
A search warrant was obtained and evacuations were completed before ATF canine units started searching the home along with a bomb squad shortly before 11 p.m., police said.
As the investigation continued early Friday, Lake Shore Boulevard remained closed to traffic between Rte. 176 and Hill Street, police said. Highland Avenue remained closed between Lake Shore Boulevard and Clearview Avenue.
Additional details about the investigation were not immediately available.
