OAK FOREST, Ill., April 22 (UPI) -- Police in Illinois said a man who was believed to be barricaded in his home for several hours was actually talking to police from a bar.

Oak Forest police said a call about a man with a gun led them to respond to the 5500 block of Babbette Court at about 4 p.m. Thursday and witnesses identified the suspect as a neighbor, the Chicago Sun-Times reported Friday.


Police said they negotiated with the man over the phone for several hours while waiting outside of his house and finally fired pepper spray into the windows and broke into the home at about 9:15 p.m. to find the residence was unoccupied.

A man who identified himself to police as a friend of the suspect told officers the man had been using his cellphone to negotiate with officers from a local bar.

"Nobody was upset (about the scenario); we're just glad everyone is OK," Oak Forest Police Sgt. Bill Busse said. "It's fortunate he didn't hurt himself or anybody else. It's better to be safe than sorry."

Police said they are still searching for the man. They did not specify the possible charges against him.