Woman punched, robbed

Bloomington police are searching for a male suspect after he locked a woman in a bathroom, punched her and took $7 from her at 9:30 p.m. Wednesday.\nBloomington Police Department officers responded to the Southern Winds Inn in the 3000 block of South Walnut Street, where a woman reported that a man she owed $20 had assaulted her and robbed her, said BPD Sgt. Jeff Canada, reading from a police report.\nThe victim went to a friend’s apartment to pick up items for her child. There she and the other woman met the suspect, who demanded the money the victim owed him.\nThe victim told the police the man then began to get rough with her and locked her in the bathroom.\nShe was able to escape, and the man then came toward her with a knife.\nHe knocked the woman down and punched her, causing injuries to her lip, Canada said.\nShe told police the man then began going through her clothes and took $7.\nThe suspect then left and the victim called the police, Canada said.\nPolice have identified a suspect, but have not yet released a name.