A domestic incident at Watterson Tower Tuesday afternoon led to a campus wide safety alert at Illinois State University. (Photo by Zach Dietmeier/WJBC)

By WJBC Staff

NORMAL - Illinois State University Police said they have a suspect in custody who was allegedly involved in a domestic dispute that triggered a campuswide emergency alert Tuesday afternoon.

ISU officials said at 4:22 p.m. residence hall restrictions and campus dining restrictions have been lifted and the emergency situation has ended.

ISU spokesman Jay Groves said the suspect was caught by Normal Police just after 4 p.m. at the Uptown Station waiting for a train.

Groves said the suspect is from Chicago and is not an Illinois State student. He was apparently involved in a domestic dispute with his girlfriend.

Initial reports stated that the girlfriend was accosted with a weapon of some sort, but after police questioned both parties, it was revealed that no weapon was presented.

Groves said the woman was not injured and is being kept in a safe location.

Illinois State sent out an emergency alert at 3:25 p.m. indicating the suspect, Nathan Thomas, had last been seen near Waterson Towers.

Shortly after, another alert was sent out saying access to residence halls and dining centers had been restricted to students only.

Jeff Hill, Lab School Superintendent, said in an email University High School and Thomas Metcalf School were both locked down briefly because of the incident but have since been reopened.

Although one person was aprehended, no arrests have been made and police continue to investigate the incident.

Zach Dietmeier can be reached at zach.dietmeier@cumulus.com.