Cops bust man who claimed he had a gun in South Elgin High

Elgin police say a 35-year-old man arrested Friday for disorderly conduct and other charges was responsible for a scare that led to a lockdown situation at South Elgin High School earlier in the day.

Elgin Police spokeswoman Sue Olafson said Arturo Arroyo of the 0-100 block of Wilcox Avenue in Elgin had made several 911 phone calls Friday morning claiming he was suicidal in different locations, including South Elgin High School.

Police ultimately found Arroyo asleep just after 11 a.m. on the roadway near the intersection of Jane and Martha drives very close to Larkin High School in Elgin, Olafson said.

Olafson said Arroyo never entered South Elgin High (or Larkin, for that matter) and no gun was found.

Officers were able to match his cellphone number to the calls made to Elgin police, Olafson said.

Arroyo was charged with disorderly conduct, unlawful possession of firearm ammunition and a violation of the Firearm Owner’s Identification card law.

South Elgin High School went into lockdown for less than a half-hour Friday morning after reports of an intoxicated gunman at the school.

A South Elgin police sweep did not find the man and the lockdown was lifted about 11:30 a.m.