Update on Minor Explosion Inside Bathroom

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
June 9, 2016

Contact: Commander Joseph Dugan - Media Relations
Phone:   (847) 866-5026

email: jdugan@cityofevanston.org

UPDATE:  EVANSTON POLICE INVESTIGATE MINOR EXPLOSION INSIDE BATHROOM

On Wednesday, June 8, 2016 at approximately 4:08 PM, the Evanston Police and Fire Departments were called to the Target Store in the 2200 block of Howard Street for a minor explosion that occurred in the women's bathroom.  There were no reported injuries and the damage was confined to a stall inside the bathroom.  Police and Fire personnel secured the scene and requested assistance from the Cook County Bomb Squad prior to collecting any evidence.  A preliminary examination revealed the explosion may have initiated from a plastic bottle that was observed in the stall.  There were no threats or other suspicious activity prior to, or since the incident occurred.  

In the course of their investigation, detectives took a 44 year old female person of interest into custody.  The investigation is still ongoing and no charges have been filed.  The detectives are not currently looking for any known additional suspects and as this point there is no indication that the incident is related to any policies that the Target store has in place.  This release will be updated when new information is obtained.  

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to contact the Evanston Police Department detective division at (847) 866-5040 or use Text-A-Tip anonymously by texting the information to CRIMES (274637) and entering EPDTIP in the message line with the tip information.