3 Bloomington teenagers arrested after neighborhood brawl and confrontation with police

BLOOMINGTON, Indiana – Three Bloomington teenagers were arrested after a fight in northwest Bloomington led to a confrontation with police.

According to a press release from Bloomington Police, the three juveniles were arrested and booked into juvenile hall on the following charges:

• 13-year-old male: Two counts of intimidation, a Level 6 felony; One count of resisting police causing injury, a Level 6 felony
• 14-year-old male: One count of resisting police resulting in bodily harm, a Level 6 felony.
• 14-year-old girl: One count of intimidation, a Level 6 felony; one count of trespassing; one count of resisting law enforcement.

Following the reported brawl on Tuesday evening, the X-account @IUOnStrike posted two videos of the alleged incident on the social media platform formerly known as Twitter.

The posts, published Wednesday morning, say Bloomington police “violently arrested” the child and that officers “ran chaotically” to the scene. The posts also say one of the teens said he couldn’t breathe during the arrest.

At around 9:25 p.m. Tuesday, Bloomington police officers responded to the area of ​​W 13th St. and N Illinois St. where a fight was taking place. Officers were previously called to the same area at around 8:10 p.m. Tuesday after several people argued with another group that allegedly displayed weapons. Police said when they arrived, the group had “dispersed and officers were unable to detect any active disturbance.”

When officers arrived at the scene for the second time, a neighborhood security guard flagged down an officer and stated that the group had gathered near Illinois St. and Illinois Ct. after police left the area. This group began to fight and the security guard allegedly pointed out two teenagers to Bloomington officers, claiming they were both involved in the incident and one was displaying a handgun.

When officers approached the two teens, they initially tried to walk away, the news release said. Bloomington police said they needed to speak to them about the argument and “they were not allowed to leave because their parents needed to be present to question them.”

Officers allege that one of the juveniles, later identified as the 13-year-old, refused to comply with officers’ commands and “physically resisted” when officers attempted to arrest him. The press release states that both officers and the juvenile fell to the ground during the struggle.

The press release states that the 13-year-old attempted to reach for his waistband and “refused to give officers his hands so they could restrain him.” Bloomington police claim that while this was happening, the other teen, identified as the 14-year-old boy, ran toward officers attempting to arrest the 13-year-old.

Officials said the 14-year-old boy was grabbed by other officers. The news release states the 14-year-old boy began resisting the other officers and attempted to grab the officer who was holding the 13-year-old. The 14-year-old boy was then handcuffed without further incident.

The press release states that the 13-year-old was eventually handcuffed by officers, who eventually had to carry him to a nearby patrol car. After searching the teen, officers found an object in his waistband that initially appeared to be a Glock pistol, but was later determined to be a replica of an Orbeez brand toy.

Two Bloomington police officers were injured while attempting to arrest the 13-year-old and 14-year-old boys, the press release said.

While the two teens were being taken to the police station, the 13-year-old began complaining of shortness of breath, according to the press release. An ambulance was called and the patrol car pulled into a parking lot near the intersection of 11th St. and Fairview St.

The press release states that while the teenager was being examined by emergency responders in the patrol car, a vehicle with “several family members of the teenager arrived on the scene and began yelling at the officers.” The 13-year-old then “threw himself out of the back seat of the patrol car and had to be restrained by the officers again.”

While the 13-year-old was being restrained, a 14-year-old female reportedly pushed past officers to get to the 13-year-old. The 14-year-old female then made a statement that “the officer perceived as if she was going to stab someone” and reportedly refused to comply with orders to step back.

Officers then attempted to detain the woman and she attempted to pull her arms away. After the woman was handcuffed, she was transported to the Bloomington Police Department.

During their investigation, officers stated in the news release that a community member near the scene of the original altercation reported that the 13-year-old and the 14-year-old boy “threatened to kill her” before officers arrived. Officers said the threat was confirmed by the security guard.

The press release states that the teenagers were placed on juvenile probation after police attempted to question them.