Deputies tased and arrested a man who called 911 from his home near Mundelein and then brandished two knives while advancing at the officers and threatening to kill them Thursday evening.
The Lake County Sheriff’s Office responded around 9 p.m. Thursday to the 26300 block of North Elmwood Road in unincorporated Mundelein for an individual requesting a police response at a residence.
Lake County Sheriff’s Office Chief Christopher Covelli said sheriff’s 911 telecommunicators intently listened to the caller and could hear him say he was intending to stab responders, which was promptly relayed to the responding deputies.
Deputies arrived and heard screaming coming from inside the home.
They knocked on the door and a man in his 30s began striking the door from inside while threatening to kill any officer who entered, Covelli said.
The man opened the door and exited the residence holding two knives.
Covelli said deputies immediately began using de-escalation techniques by giving commands and working to create time and distance.
“Despite these efforts, the man advanced toward a deputy while armed,” he said.
A deputy deployed a taser, which successfully stopped the man’s advance. Deputies disarmed him and took him into protective custody.
The man was transported to a nearby hospital for a mental health evaluation and treatment. A petition for involuntary admission was filed.
Covelli said it was learned that the man has been having ongoing mental health struggles and previously made statements that he was attempting to provoke law enforcement into using deadly force.
Deputies conducted a search of the residence for firearms but none were located. A “Clear and Present Danger” report is being submitted to the Illinois State Police.
Sheriff John D. Idleburg commended the actions of the personnel involved and said he “cannot overstate how significant this outcome is.”
“From our sheriff’s 911 telecommunicators gathering critical information in real time, to our deputies using distance, communication, and sound tactics, this is exactly what we train for. Faced with an armed individual making violent threats and advancing toward them, our deputies used restraint and sound judgment to resolve this safely,” Idleburg said.
“This outcome also reflects the investments we’ve made in crisis intervention training and programs like our Crisis Outreach and Support Team (COaST), which focus on safely resolving incidents involving individuals in mental distress. Because of their actions and our ongoing training, everyone went home without injury,” Idleburg added.
The Lake County State’s Attorney’s Office will review the incident to determine whether any charges will be filed.
“In situations like this, both the criminal justice system and mental health resources may play a role in ensuring individuals receive appropriate care,” Covelli said.
No deputies or other individuals were injured.