Trial starts for ex-cop accused of writing fake tickets

Posted on October 5, 2015
Brenton Van Hoveln
Brenton VanHoveln (Photo courtesy McLean County Jail)

By Joe Ragusa

BLOOMINGTON – A judge has ruled that the speedy trial rights of a former Bloomington police officer have not been violated in a case where he’s accused of writing fake tickets.

Judge Casey Costigan made the ruling in the case of Brenton VanHoveln before jury selection started Monday morning.

VanHoveln is accused of writing fake tickets to meet a ticket quota for the Bloomington Police Department. He was placed on leave in April 2014 and has since been let go. The state has banned the practice of ticket quotas since then.

Vanhoveln’s defense attorney argues the police department can’t produce copies of the alleged fake tickets.

Joe Ragusa can be reached at [email protected].

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