A person of interest was in custody Tuesday, but a firearm remained missing after a resource officer lost his weapon at an Arlington Heights school, according to local authorities.
The firearm has been missing since Monday afternoon. According to Arlington Heights police, the resource officer, assigned to Forest View Educational Center, misplaced the weapon after he removed it from his holster while using the restroom just before school was let out for the day.
After dismissal, the officer realized the weapon was missing and searched the restroom, but couldn’t find it, police said.
Hallway surveillance images were reviewed to determine who entered the restroom, and school officials and police were notified about the missing firearm. School officials decided to cancel school on Tuesday in order to conduct a complete search of the school building and grounds. Police dogs were brought to the school to help in the search.
However, as of 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, the firearm had not been found, according to an updated news release from Arlington Heights police. While the weapon remained missing, authorities stated they were “confident the stolen firearm was removed from the school grounds and there are no additional known threats.”
Classes will resume on Wednesday, officials said. There will be a dedicated police presence through the school day, alongside other additional security measures, including restricted access and metal detector screening for all students, police said.
Authorities said a person was in custody Tuesday afternoon and that they have narrowed the scope of their investigation to a “small group of individuals connected to this case.” Recovery of the missing firearm and apprehension of those responsible for the theft “remains the highest priority” as the investigation continues, police said.
Arlington Heights police previously stated that the department regrets the “unfortunate and embarrassing incident,” and said the department will conduct a comprehensive review.
The resource officer has been placed on administrative leave pending a formal internal affairs investigation. Police, in their updated release, said the department “maintains a strict code of conduct and violations of policies and procedures are taken seriously.”
Officials asked members of the community to call 847-368-5300 to share any information about the missing weapon.
