A resident confronted, pushed and chased a man away after she caught him trying to break into her home in Highland Park Wednesday, prosecutors said.
Niles Clark, 27, of Highland Park, was charged with attempted residential burglary.
The Highland Park Police Department responded Wednesday evening to a residence in the 700 block of Green Bay Road.
A resident arrived home and heard a noise in her basement, Lake County Assistant State’s Attorney Manuel Mandujano said.
The resident went downstairs and saw her door being kicked in from the outside.
She called 911 and yelled at the person to stop, Mandujano said.
The woman went outside and found the man, allegedly identified as Clark, wearing a mask.
Clark was trying to unscrew a garden hose and had a lighter in his hand, Mandujano said.
He allegedly reached for his waistband when the woman approached him.
The woman told the man she would get her gun and that he should leave. Clark then allegedly repeated, “Where’s the gun?”
Clark took a step inside the house and the woman grabbed him by the back of his mask and his collar and pulled him out, Mandujano said.
The woman then pushed Clark to the driveway where he allegedly fled down Green Bay Road on foot.
The woman was able to chase the man to an alleyway, Mandujano said.
Numerous police departments, including Northbrook and Deerfield, set up a perimeter and used canines to search for the man.
The City of Highland Park issued a statement at 5:20 p.m. asking area residents to remain in their homes.
Police were aided by two people who helped identify Clark as the suspect.
Officers later saw Clark looking out the window of his mother’s home and he was arrested, Mandujano added.
Lake County Judge Theodore Potkonjak set Clark’s bond at $250,000.
“The City of Highland Park appreciates the partnership of the Northbrook and Deerfield police departments in assisting with this incident response,” the city said Wednesday evening.
Clark remains held at the Lake County Jail and would need to post $25,000 cash in order to be released.
A status of attorney hearing is scheduled for November 18.