A suspect, wielding a large knife, engaged in an armed standoff with first responders after he reportedly intentionally lit a vehicle on fire near Harvard Monday afternoon.
The Harvard Fire Protection District and McHenry County Sheriff’s Office responded around 2:30 p.m. Monday to the 6500 block of Oak Grove Road in unincorporated Harvard for a report of a vehicle fire.
Firefighters were en route when they were informed that a male subject was attempting to light a vehicle on fire, according to Harvard Fire Protection District Public Information Officer Alex Vucha.
The 911 caller also reported that the suspect was still on the property but his whereabouts were unknown.
Responding firefighters reported seeing thick black smoke visible from a distance, Vucha said.
Firefighters arrived and found a red Toyota Corolla fully engulfed in flames parked near a house.
Crews quickly confirmed that no one was inside the vehicle and extinguished the fire within approximately 10 minutes.
Vucha said firefighters were wrapping up operations when the suspect returned to the property and deputies engaged the individual.
Fire personnel were moved to a safe location while law enforcement addressed the situation.
The suspect was reportedly armed with a “large knife” and was non-compliant with deputies in disarming himself, according to police radio traffic.
Emergency backup was requested and additional sheriff’s deputies, the Harvard Police Department and McHenry County Conservation Police responded.
The sheriff’s office issued an alert asking people to avoid the area of Oak Grove Road and Ramer Road due to the heavy police activity.
Fire crews returned to gather equipment and clear the scene once the scene was secured, Vucha said.
Deputies had taken the suspect into custody and the man was transported to a local hospital for a psychiatric evaluation.
The sheriff’s office has not released further information on the incident or announced charges.
The fire remains under investigation by the Harvard Fire Protection District and the McHenry County Sheriff’s Office.