Resident tells council he was wrongfully convicted and urges review of Bloomington Police conduct

Anthony Andress, a resident of McLean County, used the council's public-comment period to describe serious injuries he said he sustained in an automobile crash and to allege misconduct by a Bloomington police officer.

Andress said he was found unconscious after the collision and suffered internal injuries, a collapsed lung and a brain injury. He told the council he was later cited for alcohol-related behavior by a Bloomington officer — which he disputes — and that he believes the officer, identified in the transcript as Michael Brant Parsley, misled medical staff about his condition. Andress said the citation was later dismissed in court but that subsequent records and proceedings left him wrongfully convicted of driving under the influence of marijuana.

"He nearly took my life. I want you guys to understand that," Andress said, and asked councilmembers to meet with him so he could provide documentation and pursue review of his complaints with the police department.

The council did not engage in debate during public comment, and the transcript records no immediate council response beyond hearing Andress's statement. Andress said he had filed complaints with the Bloomington Police Department and asked the council to at least meet with him and review documents he offered to provide.

Because this account was delivered in public comment, the council did not take formal action at the meeting. The transcript does not record whether staff or the police department agreed to follow up, and the outcome of Andress's criminal case and internal complaints was not detailed in the meeting record.