Local man arrested on charges of attempted rape

A Bloomington man was arrested Monday night on a preliminary charge of attempted rape.

A 23-year-old woman met Jon Thomas Porter, 27, downtown on Monday night, said Bloomington Police Department Sgt. Jeff Canada, reading from a police report.

Porter asked to hang out with the woman, and because she knew he needed a place to stay, she agreed, Canada said.

After visiting the residence of the woman’s friend, they went to her apartment. She went upstairs to go to bed and left Porter downstairs, hoping he would either sleep on the couch or leave, according to the police report.

A short time later, the woman opened her eyes and saw Porter standing naked in her room, Canada said. He went to the bed and placed his knees on her shoulders and tried to have her perform oral sex, Canada said.

She pushed him away, but he pinned her beneath him and removed her pants, Canada said. He unsuccessfully attempted to pull her legs apart, Canada said.

After managing to get out from under him on the bed, the woman ran to the friend’s home where she had been earlier to dial 911. She told police Porter might still be in the apartment and gave a description of him.

Officers arrived to find the apartment empty, but officer Ethan Haley found Porter walking southbound on Adams Street near Cottage Grove Avenue.

He was taken into custody after refusing to talk to police.