Man arrested on weapons, drug charges
On Wednesday, 6-23-2021, afternoon the Bloomington Police Department's Street Crimes Unit (SCU) arrested Jose L. Arizmendi, 32, of Bloomington for offenses related to illegal firearm possession, drug sales, McLean County warrants, and traffic violations.
Arizmendi was arrested after members of the BPD's SCU stopped his vehicle for a traffic stop near the intersection of Greyhound Road and Southgate Drive. At the time of the stop, officers knew Arizmendi had two active Mclean County warrants for Violation of an Order of Protection and Resisting a Peace Officer. Officers also knew Arizmendi did not have a valid driver's license.
During the stop, officers asked Arizmendi to exit his vehicle, he did not comply, and Arizmendi put his vehicle into reverse and backed into a BPD SCU vehicle. He then drove forward between two SCU officers who were standing in the street, and fled from the traffic stop at a high rate of speed. BPD officers did not pursue the vehicle due to the suspect's dangerous driving and speeds.
A short time later, dispatch received a call for service that a vehicle matching the description that Arizmendi drove had crashed in the 1000 block of S. Wright St. The vehicle crashed into a resident's back yard damaging decorations and a tree. A patrol officer went to the location of the crash, but Arizmendi had fled. After the crash, officers used a K9 track and other investigative tools to find the location of the suspect. Once the officers knew where the suspect was located, officers set up a perimeter around the residence, applied for and received a search warrant for the residence.
The search warrant was executed at Arizmendi's home in the 800 block of E. Wood St. Arizmendi was arrested without incident inside of his residence. As a result of the search warrant, an unlawfully possessed pistol and ammo were seized, cocaine, and other evidence of drug sales were seized. Jose Arizmendi was later charged by the McLean County State's Attorney with:
CNT 1 - CRIM DMG/GOVT PROP/>$500-$10K
CNT 2 - AGGRAVATED FLEEING / DAMAGE GREATER THAN $300 PROPERTY
CNT 3 - POSSESS AMOUNT (UP TO 15 GRAMS) CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE EXCEPT(A) / (D) CNT 4 - MANUFACTURE / DELIVERY CANNABIS / 30-500 GRAMS
CNT 5 - RECKLESS DRIVING CNT 6 - FIREARM W/O VALID FOID/ELIG CNT 7 - ILLEGAL POSSESSION OF AMMUNITION / NO FOID CNT 8 - POSSESSION OF DRUG PARAPHERNALIA
