BLOOMINGTON, Ind. — Three teens were arrested Tuesday night and a video capturing the incident is getting some pushback on social media, with some claiming the arrest by police was violent.
Per IUSTV News policy, because the person being arrested in the video is a juvenile, it will not be published with this story.
In a release Wednesday afternoon, Bloomington Police said around 9:30 p.m. Tuesday, officers responded to the area of 13th Street and Illinois Street for a large fight with about 10 people involved.
It was the second time that night that police had responded to that spot for a fight.
A security guard flagged down responding officers and said a group began fighting and pointed out two males, later identified as teenagers, and claimed they had been involved in the fight.
The security guy also reported that one of the teens had reportedly pulled out a handgun.
Officers approached the two kids, but BPD said the teens attempted to walk away.
According to police, one of the juveniles, later identified as a 13 year old, “refused to comply with the officers and as the officers were attempting to detain him, began physically resisting.”
BPD said at that point both the boy and the officers fell to the ground.
While on the ground, police said the boy allegedly attempted to reach towards his waistband and “refused to give officers his hands.”
While that was happening, a 14 year old allegedly rushed towards the officers as they were detaining the other teen, and “and was grabbed by other officers so as to not interfere with the arrest.”
BPD said the 14 year old tried to grab the officer arresting the 13 year old and was put into handcuffs.
According to police, officers continued to struggle with arresting the 13 year old and he allegedly was “grabbing at something in his waistband.”
Once the teen was in handcuffs, Bloomington Police said he refused to walk to a police car and had to be carried.
When police searched the teen, they found what looked like a Glock handgun in his waistband, but it was determined to be a toy.
In the news release, police confirmed two officers were injured while arresting the teen.
When police were taking the 13 year old to the police station for an interview, police said the boy complained of a shortness of breath.
BPD said officers “immediately called for an ambulance and pulled over in a parking lot.”
Police also unzipped the boys hoodie because he said he was hot.
When an ambulance arrived and was observing the boy, police said family members arrived on scene and began “screaming at officers.”
The boy then allegedly “shoved” himself out of the backseat of the police car and was restrained by officers again.
At that point, a 14-year-old girl allegedly pushed past officers to get to the 13 year old and police reported she said was going to stab someone.
“The female was within 10 feet of those restraining the 13-year-old and refused to obey commands to step back, so the officer therefore grabbed the female's wrist and attempted to restrain her,” Bloomington Police said in a news release.
The girl reportedly kept pulling her arms away from police and was later handcuffed.
Bloomington Police say they talked to a person near where the fight happened and she reported someone “threatened to kill her.”
BPD confirmed the three teens were arrested and taken to juvenile detention for the following charges:
- 13-year-old male: Two counts of Intimidation, level 6 felony; Resisting Law Enforcement Resulting in Injury, level 6 felony.
- 14-year-old male: Resisting Law Enforcement Resulting in Injury, level 6 felony.
- 14-year-old female: Intimidation, level 6 felony; Unlawful Encroachment, class C misdemeanor; Resisting Law Enforcement, class A misdemeanor.
