After Matteson police released a daycare from lockdown related to an armed home invasion Tuesday, police invited the children there to tour their armored vehicle, authorities said.
The Children’s Second Language Academy, 3535 U.S. 30 in Matteson, had daycare students lined up to go outside for a walk when Police Chief Michael Jones arrived Tuesday and announced a lockdown, according to Marlene Nascimento, who owns the academy with her sister, Angela Bullock.
“He was very nice,” Nascimento said. “He explained to me what was happening.”
Four men allegedly entered a nearby home with hand guns, burglarized it and fled to another nearby home, according to a Matteson police statement. Police tracked the suspects to the second home. The daycare remained on lockdown for three hours while police, including the South Suburban Emergency Response Team, negotiated a peaceful surrender by the four suspects, the statement said.
After the men were taken into custody, police drove the Ballistic Armored Bear Cat armored truck to the daycare to “make the kids feel good” after the lockdown, Jones said Wednesday.
Nascimento said the children were not scared by the lockdown because the daycare staff told them that the police were working, “helping the community.” Instead of their walk, they returned to rehearsing for their upcoming graduation ceremony, she said.
The police “showed (the kids) everything inside, explained everything,” Nascimento said. “They were fascinated by that.”
Nascimento called it a “very positive” experience for the children, because the police were very professional.
Jones said the daycare management was “completely elated.”
The South Suburban Emergency Response Team is comprised of over 60 officers representing at least 30 different municipalities and government agencies.
Erin Gallagher is a freelance reporter for the Daily Southtown.
