Man charged with residential entry, criminal mischief

Police were called to the 400 block of East Varsity Lane at 3:24 a.m. Jan. 19 to respond to an intruder walking into an apartment.

Alex James Lodato, 23, faces preliminary charges for residential entry, criminal mischief, public intoxication and resisting law enforcement.

The residents of the apartment told police they were in their apartment when a man walked through their unlocked front door. When they asked him what he was doing, Lodato said he just wanted to warm up, said BPD Sgt. Jeff Canada, reading from the police report. The residents told Lodato to leave and had to force him out, Canada said.

Lodato then ran behind the apartment, picked up a rock and threw it at the back patio door, breaking the glass. One of the residents then chased Lodato through the apartment complex where BPD Officer Jim Batcho found the two men fighting.

Lodato ignored verbal commands and faced the officer in an offensive stance, Canada said. Officer Batcho used pepper spray on Lodato, who then ran. Batcho tackled Lodato once, but Lodato then broke free and ran until his final capture soon after, when he was arrested.

Man exposes himself to 23-year-old woman

A 23-year-old woman reported to the Bloomington Police Department at 2:12 p.m. Jan. 15 that a man in the 3000 block of East Third Street exposed himself to her, BPD Sgt. Jeff Canada said, reading from a police report.

The woman said she was walking to work with earphones in when she heard a truck honking. She said she thought it might be a co-worker honking to offer her a ride. When she looked, however, the driver was a stranger, yelling at her while exposing his penis.

The woman stated the man’s penis was erect and that he was masturbating, Canada said, reading from the police report. The suspect then drove off. He is described as a white man, possibly in his early 30s, with short, light brown hair and is slightly
balding.  

Juvenile fight lands arrest of man for child molestation, possession of marijuana

A fight between two juveniles Thursday night led to the arrest of a local man on multiple charges, including child molestation.

Harvey O. Coffey, Jr., 49, faces preliminary charges of child molestation as a class A felony, two counts of child molestation as a class C felony, maintaining a common nuisance, two counts of contributing to the delinquency of a minor,
possession of marijuana and reckless possession of paraphernalia, said Bloomington Police Department Sgt. Jeff Canada, reading from a police report.

The investigation began when BPD Detective Jarred Burns responded to a call about two juveniles fighting. When police arrived at the home, they were told the 12-year-old girl left the home with Coffey, and a 9-year-old girl snuck out of the home to search for the 12-year-old.

A train conductor soon found the 9-year-old wandering near train tracks and called the police.

The girl seemed to be disoriented and very cold, Canada said, reading from the report. BPD Lt. Jimmy Ratcliff arrived and transported the girl to Bloomington Hospital.

At the hospital, the girl told police Coffey had been molesting her for about a year.

The girl was taken to the police station to be interviewed, where she also told police and Child Protective Services Coffey allowed her to smoke marijuana. The girl added to police and CPS that Coffey showed her how to kill someone and that he threatened to kill himself if anyone found out what was happening.

Police obtained a search warrant and went to Coffey’s home, where they found the 12-year-old and the marijuana. The girl was taken and interviewed by police where she said Coffey had been molesting her since she was five years old and that he let her smoke marijuana.

Coffey initially denied the charges until he heard the testimonies given by the girls. He then admitted to molesting both and allowing them to smoke marijuana.
Coffey is being held without bond in the Monroe County Jail.