BPD arrests 3 Occupy Bloomington protesters at New Year's Eve march

Three Occupy Bloomington protesters were arrested during a New Year’s Eve march around the courthouse building downtown.

Bloomington Police Department Lt. Faron Lake said officers received a complaint around 11 p.m. Dec. 31 of protesters walking up and down Kirkwood.

“They were doing their chanting and normal protesting that they’ve done,” Lake said.  

On two different occasions, the protesters stopped in the roadway, blocking traffic, Lake said, and after officers arrived, they saw one protester throw a bottle at a building near the corner of 6th and College. The bottle-thrower, Alexander Cookman, 26, had also stepped on a squad car at one point, Lake said, and was arrested for criminal mischief, disorderly conduct, resisting law enforcement and public intoxication.

As an officer arrested Cookman, Lake said other responding officers attempted to disperse the rowdy crowd. One protester, Joshua Johnson, 36, yelled, “Get out of the way, asshole,” at an officer before pushing him and running off, Lake said.

Two officers chased after Johnson, tackled him in the roadway and arrested him for obstructing traffic, battery on a police officer, criminal mischief, resisting law enforcement and disorderly conduct, according to police reports.

A third protester, Brian Milum, 25, was arrested for disorderly conduct after an officer told him to stop arguing and Milum refused, Lake said.