Peoria Heights man behind bars in McLean County on attempted robbery charges

Posted on November 8, 2021

By Blake Haas

BLOOMINGTON – A Peoria heights man is behind bars in McLean County after local police say he allegedly attempted to rob a local restaurant.

On Sunday evening, Bloomington police responded to a restaurant in the 1800 block of S. Veterans Parkway to a report of an armed subject around 8:45 p.m.

Police say Joel Perez, 31, allegedly walked up to the drive-through window, began demanding food, pulled out a firearm, and pointed it at the victim.

According to a news release, Perez allegedly ran off without anything of value from the restaurant.

Police located Perez hiding behind a business on Currency Drive and found a look-alike gun during the arrest.

Perez is facing charges related to the attempted robbery, but no bond information is available.

Anyone with information is encouraged to contact BPD Officer Jeff Widmer or the Crime & Intelligence Analysis Unit at (309)-434-2963.

Blake Haas 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…