Man arrested after fleeing, ramming BPD squad car

Posted on October 17, 2019
David Hughes, 26, of New York state. (Photo Bloomington Police Department)

 

By Neil Doyle

BLOOMINGTON – Police have released the name of a man who fled from officers Wednesday in Downtown Bloomington and was later taken into custody in Peoria.

David Hughes, 26, of New York state, was arrested for aggravated fleeing, possession of a stolen vehicle, obstructing justice, reckless driving, and manufacture/distribute look-a-like substance (powder).  Hughes is being held in the McLean County jail.

Bloomington Police Public Information Officer John Fermon said a street crimes vice unit officer conducting a drug investigation tried to arrest Hughes, who was driving a stolen silver Jeep with Michigan license plates near Main and Jefferson Streets around 11 a.m. Wednesday.

Fermon said the suspect got out of the Jeep, fled on foot, ran back to the vehicle, crashed into the squad car, knocked down a street sign and garbage can before getting away.

The officer was not injured, but the crash damaged the squad car’s bumper.  Officers chose not to engage the suspect in a potentially hazardous high-speed pursuit, according to Fermon.

Hughes was later spotted on Interstate 74.  He was taken into custody by Peoria Police.

Neil Doyle 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…