Woman acting erratically with a knife prompts Illini-Alert from University of Illinois

CHAMPAIGN-URBANA, Ill. (WAND) - A call of a woman acting erratically with a knife prompted an Illini-Alert from the University of Illinois Friday morning.

A 911 call came in just before 6 a.m. of an unclothed woman acting erratically and possibly in need of medical attention near the area of Second and Green streets in Champaign.

Champaign Police and medical responders were dispatched.

The first responding officer saw the woman was holding a knife. Officers contained her to a small area and began speaking with her for an extended period of time to de-escalate the situation.

An Illini-Alert emergency notification was issued to students, faculty and staff instructing them to avoid the area.

During conversation with police, the woman dropped the knife, and first responders began to provide medical assistance.

The scene was determined to be safe at approximately 8:30 a.m., and police issued an updated Illini-Alert informing students, faculty and staff that it was safe to resume normal activity.

University of Illinois Police were assisted by officers the Urbana and Champaign police departments, including a behavioral health detective and crisis negotiator from the Urbana Police Department.