Des Plaines man charged in BB gun incident

Des Plaines police arrested a local man for displaying what was thought to be a handgun during an argument Tuesday afternoon with Maine West High School students near Plainfield Elementary School.

James Sieja, 49, faces two counts of aggravated assault, and one charge of unlawful use of a weapon, police said.

Plainfield and Maine West schools were put on lockdown Tuesday while police tracked down Sieja, who lives in a mobile home park on the 800 block of East Oakton Street, and determined the weapon he displayed was a BB gun, authorities said.

Sieja had parked his car near the school and got in an argument with high school-aged children near the corner, according to police. He then went back to his trailer before returning with the gun, police said.

Police arrived at Sieja’s trailer within minutes, and he gave himself up without incident. The school lockdowns were lifted within 20 minutes, police said.

Bail was set at $1,000, of which Sieja posted 10 percent to bond out. He is set to appear July 6 at the Cook County courthouse in Skokie.