Bloomington Police make 2nd arrest in armed robbery

Gregory Hightower and Clifford Pugh
Gregory Hightower (left) and Clifford Pugh are charged in an August robbery. (Photos courtesy McLean County Jail)

By Eric Stock

BLOOMINGTON – A second person has been arrested in connection with an armed robbery last month.

Clifford Pugh, 24, of Bloomington was arrested Tuesday following an investigation by Bloomington Police. He faces preliminary charges of aggravated battery, aggravated assault and armed robbery following an Aug. 28 armed robbery in the 300 block of East Mulberry Street, Bloomington.

Police arrested Gregory Hightower, 27, of Bloomington on similar charges last week.

A victim told police the two men, who were acquaintances of his, grabbed him as they were walking on the sidewalk, hit him on the head with a gun and stole about $300 in cash.

Sgt. Clayton Arnold said the victim was treated at a local hospital.

Hightower is scheduled to face arraignment on Friday. He faces a $300,000 bond. Bond for Pugh has not yet been set.

Eric Stock 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…