Eight arrested for drugs at Seminary Park; Bloomington mayor says move aims to protect vulnerable residents

In a news release issued late Friday morning (July 25) Bloomington’s police department (BPD) announced the arrest of eight people in the area of Seminary Park, on a range of drug-related charges.

The arrests were made around midday Thursday. Seminary Park is just south of 2nd Street, between College Avenue and Walnut Street.

Six were arrested on several different charges, including dealing cocaine and dealing methamphetamine, according to the news release. According to the news release, one person was arrested for possession of marijuana. Another person was arrested for having a syringe.

The news release from the police department was followed just before noon by the release of a statement from Bloomington mayor Kerry Thomson about the arrests.

In the statement, she says: “Predatory, criminal behavior will not be tolerated in Bloomington. We are committed to ensuring that our city remains safe and welcoming to all residents and visitors, and that our most vulnerable residents are protected from predators seeking profit.”

Thomson’s statement continues: “We recognize that enforcement is only one piece of the solution. That is why we are intent on supporting prevention, treatment and recovery to address the root causes of these complex issues.”

The “vulnerable residents” described in Thomson’s statement include those who are experiencing unsheltered homelessness (sometimes called the street homeless population) and who use Seminary Park as a place to gather.

The earlier news release from BPD said the arrests came after detectives investigated for several weeks to identify people who were selling and using drugs in the area of the Seminary Park. BPD’s release also says the investigation continues, and that more arrests are “likely in the near future.”

Based on the Monroe County jail book-in logs, the earliest Seminary Park arrest was made on Thursday at 11:30 a.m. with the final one made at 1:40 p.m.

At 2:02 p.m. on Thursday, a news release came from the mayor’s office announcing a press conference to be held next Tuesday (July 29) on the topic of housing and homelessness.

Responding to an emailed B Square question, asking if the timing of Thursday’s news release about the press conference was coordinated with the conclusion of the police activity in Seminary Park, city communications coordinator Lucas González wrote: “[T]he timing of [Thursday’s] media advisory wasn’t coordinated with the arrests BPD made on Thursday.”

He continued, “We have been planning the housing press conference around Kerry’s availability for a few weeks now. We chose to distribute the advisory on Thursday to give reporters ample time to plan their coverage next week accordingly.”

The announcement of the press conference included the statement: “This event is open to members of the media but not to the general public.” A press conference on homelessness around this time last year (2024), included a statement in bold: “This event is for media contacts only.”

Responding to an emailed question from the B Square, asking if elected officials, like city councilmembers would be treated like media if they showed up to ask a question, González wrote: “We noted that the press conference will be open to the media but not to the general public to ensure reporters have time to ask questions while the Mayor is available.”

González continued, “Elected officials have other avenues of communication with the Mayor and may watch the event online and follow up with any questions or comments—as may the public, other partners, and colleagues.” The news release says that the press conference will be streamed live on CATS.

Bloomington city councilmember Sydney Zulich is associate publisher at Bloom Magazine. Zulich told The B Square, “I will be attending the press conference on behalf of Bloom Magazine.”