Police and a SWAT team responded to the MilTon Luxury Apartments, 1175 Museum Boulevard in Vernon Hills, Friday morning for a standoff with an armed man that lasted over four hours before ending with the suspect being taken into custody. | Photo: Google Street View

A SWAT team responded and arrested a suspect who was armed with a pistol after he allegedly battered his wife and led police on a four-hour standoff at a Vernon Hills apartment building.

The Vernon Hills Police Department responded around 7:57 a.m. Friday to the MilTon Luxury Apartments, 1175 Museum Boulevard in Vernon Hills, for a report of an armed person.

Vernon Hills Deputy Police Chief Shannon Holubetz said officers were advised a man was armed with a handgun and had texted friends suicidal messages.

Officers arrived and deployed a drone which showed the man was on his balcony holding a pistol.

Police attempted to negotiate with the man and began evacuating the residents of surrounding apartments, Holubetz said.

Other residents were advised to shelter in place during the incident.

Holubetz said officers learned the man had been involved in a physical altercation with his wife in the hours leading up to the call.

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The Northern Illinois Police Alarm System Emergency Services Team (NIPAS EST) was called to the scene and took over negotiations.

Holubetz said detectives began securing an arrest warrant for domestic battery and also obtaining a firearms restraining order.

The man surrendered to the SWAT team at 12:45 p.m. and was taken into custody, Holubetz said.

A search warrant was executed at the apartment that led to the recovery of multiple firearms and ammunition.

The man was identified as Kenneth S. Lee, 51, of Vernon Hills. He was charged with two misdemeanor counts of domestic battery.

Court records show Lee has not been transported to the Lake County Courthouse for a First Appearance Court hearing yet.

The warrant remains active, indicating Lee was transported to a medical facility following his arrest.