Man transported to hospital after false homicide claims

The man had blood on his hand as he entered the Bloomington Police Department to turn himself in for a homicide he claimed he committed.

Although police could not find any evidence the 55-year-old man had committed a crime, his confession led to an investigation of the claim, and the man was transported to the IU Health Bloomington Hospital, Sgt. Joseph Crider said.

At about 3 p.m. Tuesday, the man entered the BPD lobby, 220 E. Third St., and told the front desk clerk he had murdered someone. Blood from his hands was left behind on a door handle as he walked into the lobby.

As the front desk clerk notified officers of the man’s claim, the man fled the building, Crider said. Officers pursued him, finally locating him near the intersection of Third and Washington streets.

Others at the station closed the lobby while technicians collected samples of the blood left on the door handle.

The man was found to be in possession of a folding-style pocket knife, which police collected. There were no signs that the man’s knife had been involved in a homicide, Crider said.

Upon further investigation, police discovered the blood on the man’s hand was his own, Crider said. The man had hit his head on a door, he told police, and wiped the laceration on his forehead with his hand.

Although the lobby was closed for about 20 minutes, Crider said, it didn’t interfere with the station’s operations. A sign placed on the door notified potential visitors about how to reach someone inside the station if necessary, he said.

Police spoke with the man, Crider said, and although they found no indication he had committed a crime, the man’s “erratic” statements led them to believe he had been having homicidal thoughts.

BPD also checked for dispatch call logs and found nothing supporting the man’s claim, Crider said.

The man was transported to the hospital for mental detention following
the incident.

— Kirsten Clark