By Greg Halbleib

BLOOMINGTON – Bloomington Police say security video has pinpointed the time when someone apparently put tar on a downtown bench.

“The incident occurred on Saturday, April 30 at 6:10 a.m.,” said Bloomington Police spokeswoman Sara Mayer. “You can see an individual carrying a bucket and placing something on the bench.”

Mayer told WJBC’s Susan Saunders the person cannot be identified on the video. She asked anyone with information to contact police.

Chief Brendan Heffner said the department has not received any official reports of damage to clothing of those who unwittingly sat on the bench. He says the bench was removed after the department received the initial vandalism report.

Heffner also said a rise in the number of reports of shots fired in Bloomington is at least partly connected to arguments between gangs. Heffner says the conflict starts with videos posted online.

“These hybrid gangs are still making videos where they disrespect each other, so that’s how they respond,” Heffner said in reference to the gunshot reports. “It’s very sad and eventually someone is going to get hurt.”

Heffner said no injuries have been reported in the cases his department is investigating.

Heffner responded to a recent viral video by saying some people don’t have their facts straight about when officers can enter a residence. The video shows people claiming officers need a warrant to follow a wanted person into a residence. The chief says that’s not correct.

“The confusion is that they think we need a warrant to search the house,” said Heffner. “We are going in to get the person. We are not going in there to search the house. That is where the confusion comes, and that is where the education comes. We do not need a warrant when we actually see a person wanted going into a residence.”

Heffner said if officers see illegal activity once they’re legally inside the residence, they must then obtain a warrant to deal with it.

Greg Halbleib can be reached at [email protected].