Editors Note: This story has been updated to reflect that a teacher saw the student with the knife after the verbal confrontation.
Police were contacted to make a report about an incident where an Oak Park middle school student threatened another student with a knife, but the school is handling the matter.
According to Oak Park School District 97 spokesperson Amanda Siegfried Gwendolyn Brooks Middle School, 325 S. Kenilworth Ave., went under “hold” protocol when after a verbal confrontation between students “a staff member observed the student in the hallway and discovered that they were in possession of a knife.”
“Hold” protocol is the lowest level of emergency response practiced by the district, and requires students and staff to clear the hallways until given an “all clear.” Last Thursday’s hold lasted about 15 minutes, Siegfried said.
“The staff member was able to confiscate the knife and, with the assistance of others, safely isolate the situation to the school library,” she said. “The student involved was secured and is being addressed in accordance with district policies and procedures. We are deeply grateful to our staff for their swift response, ensuring the safety of all students and staff. Please know that the well-being of our students is our top priority, and we will continue to uphold a safe and supportive environment at Brooks.”
Police were not called during the hold protocol, but did make a report about the incident.
“OPPD’s only involvement was taking a report from a parent whose child was threatened by the student who had the knife,” Oak Park spokesperson Dan Yopchick said. “Police were not called and informed of the “Hold”. The school and District 97 are handling the matter internally.”
District 97 did not release more information about the incident out of respect for the privacy of the students involved.
Domestic battery arrests
Oak Park police arrested several individuals on domestic battery charges last week, according to police activity reports.
A 54-year-old man was arrested in the early morning hours of April 10 in connection with a domestic incident in the 300 block of Wisconsin Avenue.
Police arrested a 30-year-old man shortly before 3 a.m. April 14 on charges of domestic battery in connection with an incident in the 400 block of Euclid Avenue.
At 8:41 p.m. on April 6, police arrested a 52-year-old Oak Park man on charges of domestic battery stemming from an incident that happened in the 500 block of Scoville Avenue.
Aggravated unlawful use of weapon investigation
Oak Park officers responded to a call of two people with guns in the 500 block of Forest Avenue Saturday, April 12 While on scene, officers stopped two subjects exiting a building, but later released both of them, according to a police activity report.
Investigators recovered a Glock .45 pistol and a .300 Blackout rifle from the building. The investigation is still pending, according to police.
Theft
Oak Park police investigated several incidents of theft in the village in which the total loss eclipsed $1,000, according to police.
Last week, police investigated an incident in which an unknown suspect stole a catalytic converter from the victim’s silver 2024 Toyota Highlander, which had been parked in the 200 block of Maple Avenue. The total estimated loss is $1,500, according to police.
Police also investigated a burglary at a home in the 100 block of South Taylor Avenue in which an unknown suspect broke into a garage and stole a bicycle and several power tools. The total loss is estimated at $1,500, according to police.
These items were obtained from Oak Park Police Department reports dated April 6-April 15 and represent a portion of the incidents to which police responded. Anyone named in these reports has only been charged with a crime and cases have not yet been adjudicated. We report the race of a suspect only when a serious crime has been committed, the suspect is still at large, and police have provided us with a detailed a description of the suspect as they seek the public’s help in making an arrest.
