Bloomington residents arrested after fight

Police arrested two men Tuesday evening for throwing rocks at and beating up another man.

Bloomington residents Travis Wickline, 24, and Stephen A. Milligan, 30, face preliminary charges of robbery, aggravated battery and intimidation.

BPD received a 911 call at about 5:45 p.m. in the area of Second and South Walnut streets, BPD Sgt. Jeff Canada said, reading from a police report.

Detectives found a man with a compound fracture to the left forearm who later underwent surgery. He also sustained injuries to his ribs, Canada said.

Witnesses told police that Wickline, Milligan and the injured man were seen fighting, and when officers arrived on the scene, the suspects fled.

The injured man told police that Tuesday’s incident stemmed from an incident on Monday. He said he and a female friend were walking in Seminary Park when Milligan asked her for money. The victim told Milligan he would not get any money from her.
Then, he said he was walking by Kroger at 3 p.m. Tuesday on College Avenue when Wickline and Milligan approached him and began to verbally abuse him, according to the report. The injured man told officers he left the park, Canada said.

Canada said the injured man told police he was later walking with a friend to Big Red Liquors in the 400 block of South Walnut Street. When they walked into the store, he saw Wickline and Milligan. He said he got nervous and tried to leave the store without being seen.

Police later interviewed the store clerk at Big Red, and his story matched the injured man’s story, Canada said.

The injured man told police that when he left the store, he was jumped by Wickline and Milligan, Canada said. Milligan pulled a knife on him and threatened him, according to the report. The injured man told police Milligan tried to stab him but then dropped the knife, and then the injured man picked it up, according to the report.

According to the report, the injured man said Wickline threw a large rock, striking him in the ribs. The injured man told police he dropped the knife and fell. Wickline and Milligan hovered over him, punching him and kicking him, Canada said.

The injured man said both men rooted through his pockets and took a small amount of cash, according to the report.

Narcotics detectives in the area apprehended Wickline and Milligan in the 400 block of South Washington Street.

Wickline told police he had not done anything wrong, Canada said. Milligan told police he was at Second and South Walnut streets when he was approached by the injured man. Milligan told officers the injured man struck him in the face and pulled out a knife.

Milligan told police that the injured man then fell to the ground, according to police reports, and Milligan threw a rock at him. Milligan told officers he stood over the victim and punched him several times, Canada said.

After interviewing witnesses, police transported Milligan and Wickline to the Monroe County Jail.