Comment on Suicidal man found in Harvard after police search area near school

About 11 a.m. Thursday, Harvard Police responded to a call of a suicidal male in the 500 block of East Diggins Street, according to a news release. The nearby Washington School went on a soft lockdown about 1 p.m. but by 2:45 p.m. the scene was cleared and school buses were able to follow their usual routes home, police said. When police arrived on the scene on East Diggins Street after the call, they discovered the man had fled the area and police expanded their search. Just before noon, the male was found locked inside a residence in the 400 block of South Eastman Street. He refused to come out and made threats, police said. McHenry County Sheriff's department was called in for assistance and residents in the area were notified and told to shelter in place, police said. Police negotiated with the subject who came out of the residence and peacefully surrendered about 2:30 p.m., police said, and a witness at the scene. He was taken to MercyHealth Harvard Hospital for medical treatment by the Harvard Fire Protection District.