After a standoff that lasted well into the evening, a Countryside man has been removed from his home.

Countryside Mayor Robert Conrad said just before 10 p.m., a team of law enforcement officers went in through the back door of the man’s home with pepper spray and loud noises.

A neighbor identified the suspect as Ken Clark, of 10155 5th Ave. Cut Off.

“That pepper spray is pretty aggressive,” Conrad said. “So it forced the individual out the front door where a team was waiting to apprehend him.”

Police are now searching Clark’s home and debriefing residents, who will then be allowed to return to their homes.

Conrad said he saw Clark sitting upright as an ambulance passed him at the scene and he appeared to be unharmed. Conrad expressed concerns over a Countryside police officer who broke an ankle during the operation. However, overall he was pleased with the outcome.

“It was a safe end for all and a great effort by all.”

Earlier in the evening, residents who had been displaced due to the standoff were offered a night’s stay in a hotel free of charge.

Second Ward Alderman John Von Drasek said the city partnered with the Best Western at 6251 Joliet Road to provide free housing for residents who could not get to their homes due to a police barricade of Fifth Avenue Cut Off.

Police began negotiators this afternoon after the suspect holed up inside his house after reports of gunshots.

Judy Robb, who lives next door, said a man and his mother resided at the home. The street was barricaded after a disturbance started earlier this afternoon, she said.

“He took a chain and threw it over high wire cables,” she said. “The cables grounded, and it blew up. What saved us is the chain melted and everything was OK. My husband saw him walk away, but did not see him actually do it.”

ComEd and the police were then notified of the situation, she said.

 Pam Anton, a spokeswoman for ComEd, said they received a report at 1:02 p.m. Friday from 10100 block of the 5th Avenue Cut Off of a street light wire down, but it was repaired by 2:28 p.m. She said the power company received no reports of power outages in that area, nor throughout Countryside.

Both Robb and Mackie Storc, who lives nearby, said the suspect fired about seven shots.

The suspect’s mother had been taken to another residence, attempting to calm down the suspect with her influence, Conrad said.

The Cook County Sheriff’s Department assisted with a negotiation team. A SWAT team and armored car were also requested, and helicopters were seen circling the area. Dozens of departments from throughout the greater Chicago area responded, including McHenry and Skokie.

Students bused from Ideal School in Countryside, Pleasantdale Elementary School in LaGrange and Pleasantdale Middle School in Burr Ridge were returned to the schools and were being picked up by parents.

Catherine Chang, business manager for Pleasantdale School District 107, said when notification was given of police activity near Fifth Avenue, the district’s bus company did not drop any students in the area and returned to the Pleasantdale schools. She said students were being kept at the school until their parents arrive.