By Heart of Illinois ABC
NORMAL – A Peoria Heights man arrested last weekend for allegedly trying to rob a Bloomington restaurant is now the suspect in an assault on the Illinois State University mascot and a film crew on the quad.
Wednesday, ISU Police posted on social media photos taken by the film crew of a man they said threatened Reggie Redbird and crew members last Friday afternoon.
ISU Police Chief Aaron Woodruff said Joel Perez, 31, also threw candy at Reggie and the film crew. That’s a possible felony because the quad is a public place.
Police said no one was hurt in the confrontation, and the state’s attorney’s office is considering whether to file a felony aggravated battery charge against Perez.
He’s been jailed since Sunday evening after Bloomington Police were called to investigate an attempted robbery at a restaurant’s drive-through window in the 1800 block of South Veterans Parkway. Police said Perez allegedly displayed a look-alike gun, demanded food, and yelled other demands, but he ran off without stealing anything. Court records indicate Perez is charged with six counts of aggravated assault, all misdemeanors, for Sunday’s restaurant incident.
