Update: According to police, on Sunday at approximately 3:00pm a missing person report was filed at the Elgin Police Department regarding a male subject who closely matched the description of the male who went into the Fox River. Photos were shown to the family, and he was tentatively identified as being the same individual involved in Friday’s incident.
Scheduled recovery efforts by the Elgin Fire and Police Departments will continue throughout the week. Detectives from the Police Department’s Major Investigations Division are actively investigating the incident. Currently the identity of the male is being withheld pending recovery and a positive identification.
Update: After searching the Fox River Friday and Saturday, the Elgin Fire Department has terminated the effort having failed in finding the suspect in Friday’s incident.
According to a social media post by the Elgin Police Department, “At this time, search efforts have concluded. The investigation is ongoing.”
Elgin police and fire departments have resumed a comprehensive search of the Fox River in Elgin for an armed suspect who escaped from police Friday morning after “interfering with railroad operations,” according to police.
The initial search was suspended last night at 7pm due to lack of visibility.
According to police, on Friday at 10:52am officers responded to the area of Highland and State Street for a male subject reported to have interfered with railroad operations. Officers had contact with the male subject, at which point he fled on foot and ran into the Fox River. While he was fleeing from officers, they observed a large knife on the subject.
The Elgin Fire Department responded to the area and deployed water rescue equipment to get the male subject safely back to land. While these efforts were underway, the subject went under the water. A MABAS (Mutual Aid Box Alarm) was activated by Elgin Fire Department personnel for additional assistance in active efforts to locate the individual.
No further information has been released about the nature of the suspect’s “interference.”
This story is developing.
