Bloomington Police Investigate Sexual Assault
The Bloomington Police Department is investigating a reported sexual assault and requesting the assistance of the public in identifying the suspect.
An 18-year-old woman reported that she was assaulted in a parking garage in the 200 block of N Morton Street just after 10pm on Thursday, September 1st. The woman stated that she had entered the garage from the alleyway in the 200 block of west 6th Street and had walked up the steps to the third floor where she began looking for her vehicle. She reported to investigators that as she was walking up the ramp towards the fourth floor, she noticed that a man appeared to be following her. She said the man then grabbed her from behind and tackled her into a parking space between two parked vehicles, where the suspect sexually assaulted her.
The victim began to yell for help and heard footsteps approaching, at which time the suspect got up and ran from the scene. The suspect went back down the steps that the victim had used to get to the 3rd floor and then ran from the garage heading north across 7th Street.
The suspect is a thin Black male that is believed to be over six feet tall. Anyone with information about the suspect’s identity is asked to call (812)349-3326.
Attorney General Todd Rokita secures $15 million settlement with Frontier Communications
Attorney General Todd Rokita announced a $15 million settlement with Frontier Communications that will ensure that Hoosiers receive the services for which they have paid. The settlement especially benefits residents living in rural communities. In May 2021, Attorney General Rokita sued Frontier Communications alleging they violated the Indiana Deceptive Consumer Sales Act. The Federal Trade Commission and several other states also sued the company. Specifically, the lawsuit argued the company misrepresented internet speeds and reliability to consumers.
Frontier Communications entered into an Assurance of Voluntary Compliance agreeing to pay $15 million over a period of four years to improve internet infrastructure in Indiana. The agreement also requires Frontier to review service speeds and provide options to consumers to reduce service plans (and costs) if their current plans promise higher speeds than those provided. Frontier also must change their advertising efforts to accurately represent to Indiana consumers both the availability and reliability of their internet service.
Frontier will be given a period to correct various discrepancies between the advertised internet speed and the actual internet speeds provided to Hoosiers. Following this period, Frontier must credit billing charges to consumers who do not receive at least 90 percent of the maximum advertised speed (unless the consumer has been informed of such and elects not to subscribe to the lower speed tier). Frontier also must credit billing charges to customers if it fails to provide consumers at least 100% of the speed they were promised.
In addition, Frontier must provide training programs for their consumer service representatives, field technicians and sales agents that accurately and comprehensively cover the requirements of the agreement, the effect on the consumer’s internet service, the rights of consumers to discontinue, etc. For four years following the agreement, Frontier must provide the Office of the Attorney General a semi-annual report detailing compliance with the agreement.
September Bloomington events
Black y Brown Arts Festival
Saturday, September 10, 1 – 6pm, Switchyard Park Pavilion (601 S Rogers St)
The Fourth Annual Bloomington Black y Brown Arts Festival (BBBAF) will include a visual arts exhibition in the pavilion and a performance showcase on stage, with food trucks offering items for purchase. Learn more at bloomington.in.gov/byb.
Fiesta del Otoño 2022
Saturday, September 17, 1am -1pm, Switchyard Park Pavilion (601 S Rogers St)
The City of Bloomington will celebrate their 17th Annual Fiesta del Otoño in the Pavilion at Switchyard Park. Fiesta del Otoño is held in commemoration of the National Hispanic/Latinx Heritage Month, nationally recognized each year from September 15 through October 15. It celebrates and recognizes the contributions Hispanic/Latinx Americans have made to American society and culture. Follow the City of Bloomington’s Latinos Programs Facebook page, at facebook.com/LatinoBTown to learn more.
Lotus World Music & Arts Festival
Friday, September 22 – Sunday, September 25, 2022 6pm – 12midnight, Switchyard Park, 6th Street between Walnut & College, 4th Street
Lotus World Music & Arts Festival from The Lotus Education & Arts Foundation with support from City of Bloomington Board of Public Works, celebrates the diversity, beauty, and joy of music and the arts from cultures around the world. Lotus offers, free of charge during the Festival weekend, a wide scope of activities and invites participants from all economic walks of life. We present a free “Lotus in the Park” event with workshops and concerts, a free and interactive Arts Village displaying community-generated visual arts, as well as a parade, procession, and exhibits. Learn more at https://bton.in/W_hb5.
Hoosiers Outrun Cancer 5k Run/Walk
Saturday, September, 24, 8am – 12noon, Start/finish at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall (1001 E 17th St)
Hoosiers Outrun Cancer 5K Run/Walk is a benefit for the Cancer Support Community and Bloomington Hospital Foundation Hoosiers Outrun Cancer coordinates with the City of Bloomington Board of Public Works on route and road closures. Learn more at hoosiersoutruncancer.org
Blooming Neighborhoods Celebration
Saturday, September 24, 10am. – noon, Bloomington City Hall (401 N. Morton St.)
The City of Bloomington invites community members to learn about our vibrant and eclectic neighborhoods. Visit with neighborhood representatives from around the city as they gather on the terraced area under the trees in front of City Hall for a celebration of their accomplishments. Blooming Neighborhoods is a time for networking, sharing ideas, and learning about the neighborhoods that make Bloomington a great place to live. Learn more at https://bton.in/B8O4g.
State Police Major announces retirement after nearly 36 years of service
An Indiana State Police Major has announced his retirement from the Department following a career which has spanned nearly 36 years. Major Steven D. Holland, who was originally from Paoli, Indiana, graduated from Paoli High School in 1982, and he was a graduate from Indiana University at Bloomington in 1986, where he earned his Bachelor of Science Degree. During his time at Indiana University, he served as a police officer for the Indiana University Police Department. On November 16, 1986, he graduated from the Indiana State Police Recruit Academy and was appointed as a Trooper and assigned to the now closed Indiana State Police Post in Seymour, patrolling in Jackson and Bartholomew Counties. Since joining the state police, Major Holland also graduated from the Southern Police Institute at the University of Louisville in 1996, as well as the FBI National Academy in Quantico, Virginia in 1997.
During Major Holland’s service with the state police, he has served in many roles to include Trooper, Detective, Undercover Drug Investigator, White Collar Crime Detective, Squad Sergeant, District Investigative Commander First Sergeant, Area Investigative Commander Lieutenant, and in 2013 he was promoted to the rank of Major and served as the Commander of the Laboratory Division until his retirement.
During his career, Major Holland has served on many boards, committees, and associations, to include more recently: the Indiana State Coroner’s Training Board; the Indiana Statewide Sexual Assault Response Team; the Board of Visitors for the Forensic and Investigative Sciences Program at Indiana University/Purdue University- Indianapolis; the American Society of Crime Laboratory Directors; the Midwest Crime Laboratory Directors Association; the FBI National Academy Associates; and the Association of State Criminal Investigative Agencies. More locally, he has continued a long record of service as a board member for the Police Athletic and Activities League in Columbus, Indiana, and as a licensed Indiana High School Athletic Association basketball official.
Major Holland and his wife, Kimberly, have three adult children and are residents of Bartholomew County.
This Week in Hoosier History
1913 – The route of the Lincoln Highway was revealed. The idea of Indiana’s Carl Fisher, it was the first coast-to-coast paved road. In Indiana, the Lincoln Highway went through Elkhart, South Bend, and LaPorte.
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