Bloomington Police

A 35-year old Bloomington man has been arrested on child pornography charges.

Carthell Nibbelin was jailed after being picked up by police from both Normal and Bloomington. His arrest stems from a year-long investigation started by NPD.

Following a year that saw increased tensions in Bloomington-Normal between police and minorities, an event designed to help community members experience what police officers encounter every day did not appear to attract any more interest than past years. But, the third annual Behind the Badge event at Horton Field House at Illinois State University seemed to leave a lasting impression for those who attended.  The event was sponsored by police agencies, Illinois State University and the Minority and Police Partnership (MAPP).

Police in Bloomington say they apprehended someone in that shots fired incident last week at Market and Howard streets.

A 15-year old boy is now in the juvenile detention center.

Bloomington Police say they arrested a man shortly after an armed robbery at a West Market Street gas station. The stickup happened about 6:06 a.m. Tuesday.

Two key members of the Minority and Police Partnership are reacting differently to Bloomington police pedestrian stop data analyzed by the American Civil Liberties Union and Illinois Wesleyan University Professor Julie Prandi.

Bloomington Police say a sexually violent person has cut off his home monitoring ankle bracelet and disappeared.

Wanted for escape is David Hermosillo. He is 50 years old and had been living on West MacArthur Street in Bloomington.

Armed robberies and shootings were up in Bloomington last year, but most major crime categories were down.

Police Chief Brendan Heffner said that's according to the annual crime report.

A large group of Bloomington residents are upset with the City Council's decision to unanimously approve a lease from Mid-Central Community Action for the property at 828 W. Jefferson Street to serve as a community house.

Bloomington's Finance Director said the City is working efficiently to fund the Police and Fire pension plans.

Many Bloomington residents are concerned about the proposed police substation in a now-vacant house on the City's west side.

Residents were able to ask questions during the regular Bloomington Police Chief focus meeting Wednesday night, but some feel they didn't get all the answers.

Bloomington police are looking into another incident of shots fired on the city's west side.

At 9:41 p.m. Monday, police were called to multiple reports of shots fired in the 900 block of West Olive Street. Police arriving on the scene were told that two young black males were seen running from the area, and may have made a getaway in a dark colored vehicle.

Police say there are no reports on damage or injuries related to the shots being fired.

Anyone with more information about the incident is asked to contact Bloomington Police.

Mid-Central Community Action opened the doors of a house discussed a possible Bloomington Police substation. 

The house is at 828 West Jefferson Street in Bloomington.  The open house was Sun., Dec. 18 

The proposed substation has received pushback from the Bloomington-Normal chapter of Black Lives Matter and other community members.  Bloomington councilman Scott Black was at the open house.  He said he was disappointed some people didn’t dig deeper into the reasons the sub-station was proposed. 

Bloomington Police Chief Brendan Heffner agreed to a few changes requested during a standing-room-only, Black Lives Matter forum aimed at holding police accountable for strategies it says have unfairly targeted blacks and left some residents fearful to even drive the city streets. 

Black Lives Matter activists say the idea they weren't consulted about a potential west side police substation is not the only problem with the plan.

Group member Ky Ajayi, who lives on the east side of town near the airport, said following the Bloomington City Council meeting that the model of community policing articulated to the council by police and Mid Central Community Action is 'nice,' but not enough.

The group Black Lives Matter Bloomington-Normal is asking its members to call Bloomington aldermen this weekend to delay a vote on whether to open a police substation on West Jefferson Street. BLM leaders say the community has not been properly engaged and there is no consensus that a substation would be welcome.  

Bloomington Police will open a substation on the city's west side. According to a release from Mid-Central Community Action, the two groups are partnering on opening a new community substation at a home owned by Mid-Central at 828 West Jefferson Street.

Bloomington Police report another night of gunfire, this time near Locust and Madison Streets.

A night earlier officers found a car that had been hit by bullets in the same general area.

A Bloomington woman has received a four-year prison sentence for neglecting an elderly family member.

Prosecutors say sixty-year-old Doreen Rodgers had her housing, expenses, and a monthly allowance paid for by the older man.

Bloomington Police have arrested fifty-nine-year-old woman for shooting a man early Sunday morning.

The incident happened about 1:34 a.m. in the Hilltop Mobile Home Park.

OSF St. Joseph Medical Center in Bloomington is assessing the scene after receiving a bomb threat at one of its physician offices.

Hospital staff immediately called Bloomington Police and Fire Departments. OSF St. Joseph's President Chad Boore says he is glad the crews were able to make it to the hospital quickly.

"They worked with us in a very organized fashion to do a complete sweep of the building, which is Eastland Medical Plaza II, and after working through all of that it was determined that the building was clear," Boore said.

Bloomington police say three armed robbers invaded a home on the southeast side of town Wednesday evening.

Officers say the victims told investigators the robbers wore masks and had guns.

Community leaders and government officials in McLean County are receiving praise for their improvements to resources for people suffering from mental illness in the Twin Cities and surrounding communities. Illinois Senator Dick Durbin said the area is moving in the right direction.

Bloomington's police department has a new assistant chief to replace the retired Gary Sutherland.

Greg Scott, a 20-year veteran of the force, is assuming the duties. He moves into the leadership post after being a lieutenant in the criminal investigations division.

Replacing Scott in that post is Brian Brown. He's been with BPD 19 years and has served as a SWAT  commander and with the pro-active unit.

Also being promoted is Ivy Thornton, who becomes a sergeant. During her 14-year career in Bloomington, she's been a crime scene technician and a crisis negotiator.

No charges have been filed against a man who barricaded himself inside a residence in the 400 block of North Lee Street Tuesday morning.

According to Bloomington Police, the man had a gun and threatened suicide. He surrendered about an hour after the incident began around 7 A. M. Police later found several guns inside the residence.

BPD crisis negotiators, SWAT team members along with Normal police, the McLean County Sheriff's police and state police also responded. He was later taken to a hospital.