BPD finds 16 year old with a handgun during community policing

Posted on February 10, 2018
Bloomington Police Department
Bloomington Police arrested a 16 year old for allegedly carrying a handgun. Officers say they made the arrest while on community policing patrol. (WJBC file photo)

By Howard Packowitz

BLOOMINGTON – Community policing efforts are credited for taking a gun off the streets on Bloomington’s near southwest side and the arrest of a teenage boy for allegedly carrying the weapon

Bloomington Police say officers from the department’s street crimes unit were working near Allin and McArthur when they saw two people walking in the area.

An officer reportedly patted down the 16-year old boy and felt a gun in his pocket. A department news release does not reveal why officers searched the teen.

The handgun’s serial numbers were illegally removed, according to police.

The teen allegedly tried to run and threw the handgun while the officer was trying to put him in handcuffs.

Police took him to the McLean County Juvenile Detention Center on charges of unlawful possession of a firearm and ammunition, and resisting a police officer.

Howard Packowitz can be reached at [email protected]

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