By Blake Haas
BLOOMINGTON – A Bloomington man remains behind bars on a half-a-million bond on felony charges of aggravated battery.
On Friday, June 25, around 1 a.m. Bloomington Police responded to a hotel on Brickyard Drive for an unconscious person.
Once on the scene, BPD located James G. Noplos, 44, of Fergus Falls, Minnesota unconscious and bleeding from his head.
BPD transferred Noplos to OSF St. Joseph’s Emergency Room, where he was later transported to OSF St. Francis in Peoria.
After a short investigation, the officer’s identified that Anthony R. Gillespie, 39, of Bloomington, allegedly punched Noplos, knocking him unconscious.
Around 1:30 a.m., officers arrested Gillespie in the 300 block of E. Wood St.
Noplos was in serious and critical condition at OSF St. Francis in Peoria for most of last weekend and week for medical treatment.
Last Sunday, Jame Harwood, Peoria County Coroner, pronounced Noplos dead, with the cause of death listed as blunt force head trauma.
The McLean County State’s Attorney’s Office charged Gillespie with one count of aggravated battery and two counts of obstructing justice.
Anyone with information regarding the incident is encouraged to contact BPD Detective Ty Klein at 309-434-2366 or Tklein@cityblm.org.
Blake Haas can be reached at Blake.Haas@Cumulus.com.
