Bloomington police are asking the public for help identifying someone connected to a physical altercation and a string of thefts that unfolded near the intersection of Kirkwood Avenue and Dunn Street on July 26. According to investigators, a purse was taken from another person during the incident, and the suspect then allegedly used keys found inside that purse to get into the victim's vehicle and steal several more items.
The Bloomington Police Department shared photos of the individual sought in connection with the case in a Facebook post published Tuesday. Police describe the person as wearing a black long-sleeve top and light-colored pants at the time of the incident, and say they believe the individual was involved in a physical altercation that police say occurred alongside the theft. Anyone who recognizes the person pictured is asked to call police at 812-339-4477 or email [email protected], and can ask to speak specifically with Detective Jeff Rodgers, the case's lead investigator.
A Detective With High-Profile Experience
Rodgers is a familiar name in Bloomington law enforcement circles. Beyond his current caseload, he also serves as a primary contact for tips in the long-unsolved 2011 disappearance of Indiana University student Lauren Spierer, according to WTHR. Years earlier, per the Indiana Daily Student, Rodgers also served as a bargaining unit representative for the department, advocating on issues of staffing levels and officer workloads within the agency.
The exact sequence of events from that July night, including how the altercation and the purse theft were connected, remains under investigation, and the suspect has not been identified or charged as of this reporting. Under Indiana law, theft is generally a Class A misdemeanor, but the charge can escalate to a Level 6 felony carrying up to two and a half years in prison if the value of stolen property reaches $750 or if a motor vehicle is involved, according to Banks & Brower. Battery charges in the state can likewise be elevated from a Class B misdemeanor to a Class A misdemeanor if the alleged physical altercation caused bodily injury, per the Chambers Law Office.
A Corridor Known for Both Crowds and Crime
The intersection of Kirkwood Avenue and Dunn Street sits along a heavily trafficked commercial corridor adjacent to the Indiana University campus, lined with restaurants, bars, and constant student foot traffic, according to the B Square Bulletin. The same stretch drew thousands of revelers after Indiana University's national championship win in January, prompting multi-agency police oversight and temporary bus barricades, the Indiana Daily Student reported at the time. Hoodline also covered a shooting that left nine people injured along the same corridor in April, and reported on police response to a public disturbance involving a father and toddler on Kirkwood's nightlife strip in May.
Property crime isn't new to the area either. Police reports from downtown Bloomington in May 2025 documented multiple thefts along East Kirkwood Avenue, including items stolen from unattended bags at nearby eateries, according to the Bloomingtonian. City officials have since moved to reshape the corridor: the Bloomington City Council voted 5–4 in June to codify permanent seasonal vehicle closures on the first five blocks of Kirkwood Avenue from April through mid-November starting in 2027, a change aimed in part at improving pedestrian safety.
Crime Trends Moving in Different Directions
The July 26 incident comes even as local crime statistics have generally trended downward. The city's 2024 State of Public Safety Report, released in May 2025, found that violent crime in Bloomington dropped 24.3% and overall crime fell 0.8%, even as calls for police service rose 2.4%. Nationally, preliminary FBI data released in May found property crime declined 12.4% year-over-year while violent crime dropped 9.3%.
For now, the case remains open, and police have not released additional details about the identity of either the victim or the suspect. Anyone with information is urged to contact the Bloomington Police Department using the phone number or email listed above.
