Joliet police say no one in danger over potential gun threat

Joliet’s SWAT team responded to a 911 call from a man who claimed that someone was threatening another person with a firearm, but he may have been experiencing a mental health episode, police said.

Edgar Hernandez, 47, was taken to a hospital for a medical evaluation and then released from police custody on a disorderly conduct charge, according to Joliet Police Sgt. Dwayne English.

The 911 call from Hernandez caused the Joliet Police SWAT team and other officers to respond about 8:30 a.m. Wednesday in the 5500 block of Meadowbrook Street, according to police officials.

Hernandez claimed that “someone was possibly threatening another person in the home with a firearm,” English said.

Officers immediately established a perimeter around the residence, English said.

Nearby schools were told to begin their safety protocols, and residents were given a shelter-in-place order, English said.

Joliet Police Chief Bill Evans arrived at the scene to speak with officers.

The officers who were sent to the scene were from the Joliet Police Department’s Crisis Negotiator Team and Special Operations Squad, the latter of which is the department’s SWAT team.

Hernandez and his two adult sons exited the home, English said.

A shotgun was recovered after a search of the home.

Officers spoke with people involved in the incident, which led them to believe no one was in danger, English said.

Hernandez may have experienced a “mental health episode that precipitated this incident,” English said.

He was taken for an evaluation at Prime Healthcare Saint Joseph Medical Center in Joliet.