Schaumburg Mayor Demands Entrance Barriers At Woodfield Mall

SCHAUMBURG, IL — The Schaumburg Police Department said police are continuing to investigate the 22-year-old man who remains in custody in connection to a Friday afternoon incident at Woodfield Mall in Schaumburg, involving an SUV that crashed through and then drove through the mall, according to a release from the department. The mall reopened over the weekend, however according to the Daily Herald, Schaumburg Mayor Tom Dailly said Saturday that the Village will demand all entrances to the Mall have protective barriers in an effort to prevent an incident like Friday's.

The news report added that Dailly said Saturday they had suggested in the past that protective barriers be installed.

"It's no longer going to be an ask," Dailly said, according to the Daily Herald.

Woodfield issued a statement Sunday and said the lack of barriers outside the Sears entrance was the retailer's decision and not the mall's.

Three people inside the mall were taken to area hospitals for treatment of injuries that were not considered life-threatening following Friday's crash, and were not a result of being hit by the SUV, police said. Four others were treated at the scene, police added.

Those who were inside the mall at the time described an extremely chaotic situation, with some thinking the sound of glass shattering was gunshots. They also said the situation could've been much worse as there were many near misses, including times when the SUV came very close to striking children at the mall, according to media reports.

Police started fielding multiple 911 calls regarding a black SUV-style vehicle that drove through a mall entrance near Sears and Rainforest Cafe at 2:21 p.m., according to a statement from the Schaumburg Police Department. The SUV then drove through the mall common area before coming to a stop in the mall center court. Witnesses told media outlets that along its way, the SUV collided with the last car of a kid's train, but no one was on that train at the time. The vehicle also nearly hit a group of children near Rainforest Cafe, authorities said.

Several stores and kiosks were damaged as the vehicle drove through the mall, according to media reports. Witnesses reportedly said the SUV crashed into a pillar.

Several people inside the mall captured the scary situation on video and posted the videos, and photos of the chaos, on social media.

Police took the 22-year-old man into custody without incident. He was treated at the scene. No information was immediately available regarding any charges filed against the man.

• More details: Woodfield Driver Taken to Behavioral Health Clinic: Police

On Saturday, the man, who had still not been identified, was transported to AMITA Health Behavioral Medicine Institute for treatment, according to a news release from the Schaumburg Police Department.

"The duration of his treatment is unknown and no charges will be authorized until his release," authorities said.

Patch will continue updating this story as new information becomes available.