Bloomington Police probe two Wednesday night knife attacks

Bloomington Police
Bloomington Police are seeking tips from the public to help solve a pair of Wednesday night knife attacks. (WJBC file photo)

By Howard Packowitz

BLOOMINGTON – Bloomington Police seek the public’s help in solving an armed robbery and an apparently unrelated stabbing.

Both crimes happened Wednesday night.

Police say the robbery victim was delivering food on Ginger Trail St. on Bloomington’s southwest side when two men carrying knives demanded money.

They allegedly made off with an undisclosed amount of cash.

The suspects are said to be black men, between 18 and 22 years old.

Anyone with information is asked to call Detective Matt Dick at 309-434-2475.

Detective Dick can also be reached at [email protected].

The stabbing allegedly happened about 11 p.m. Wednesday in the 800 block of W. Monroe St.

A man, who’s 26, told police he felt a sharp object strike his back, and an attacker demanded the man’s wallet.

Police said the victim suffered a hand wound while trying to defend himself.

Police interviewed him at Advocate BroMenn Medical Center, where authorities said he was treated for a non-life-threatening injury.

Police describe the suspect as a black man with a long, dark beard, about 6′ 4″, 180 pounds.

Police are asking anyone with information about the stabbing to call Detective Jared Roth at 309-434-2379.

Detective Roth can also be reached at [email protected].

Anonymous tips in both cases can be called into McLean County Crime Stoppers at 309-828-1111.

The organization offers cash rewards of up to one-thousand dollars for information leading to arrests and indictments.

Howard Packowitz can be reached at [email protected]

Blogs

Labor Day – Expanding voting rights for all

By Mike Matejka Because of COVID, there is no Labor Day Parade this year.  It’s always a great event for our everyday workers to march proudly down the street and enjoys the festive crowd. If there had been a parade, this year’s Labor Day theme was to be “150 years of struggle: your right to vote.” …

Is federal mobilization the answer?

By Mike Matejka As President Donald Trump threatens to send federal marshals into Chicago, over the objections of Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker, recall another Illinois Governor who protested the incursion of armed federal personnel into the city.   Those federal troops, rather than calming, escalated the situation, leading to deaths and violence. Illinois poet Vachel Lindsay…

In these troubled times, to my fellow white Americans

By Mike Matejka Our nation is at a unique watershed in human relations. African-Americans have been killed too many times in the past before George Floyd, but the response to this man’s death is international and all-encompassing. I was a grade-schooler during the Civil Rights 1960s. I watched Birmingham demonstrators hosed and the Selma – Montgomery…

Workers’ Memorial Day – Remember those whose job took their life

Looking around our community, when we say employer, most will respond to State Farm, Country, or Illinois State University.   We too often forget those who are building our roads, serving our food, or our public employees. COVID-19 has made us more aware of the risk.  Going to work every day for some people means…