Bloomington man detained on robbery charges, accused of taking woman's purse

BLOOMINGTON — A Bloomington man is being detained in the McLean County jail pending trial, accused of robbing a woman outside of a Bloomington store.

Dennis L Ruffins, 38, is charged with aggravated robbery, a Class 1 felony; robbery, a Class 2 felony; burglary to a motor vehicle, a Class 3 felony; and reckless conduct, a Class A misdemeanor.

He appeared Tuesday for an initial appearance before Judge Greg Minger. Assistant State's Attorney David Fitt filed a petition to detain Ruffins on the grounds of dangerousness.

According to court documents, on Oct. 11, a man, who was later identified as Ruffins by witnesses, entered a woman's car to take her purse and its contents outside a store on West Market Street in Bloomington.

In a probable cause statement, Fitt said Ruffins threatened her with a spray-painted pellet gun, acting as if he had a real firearm, as he dragged the woman through the parking lot.

During the investigation, police reviewed surveillance footage that captured the incident. Ruffins was later pulled over for driving the wrong way on a one-way street, and officers found him to be in possession of the stolen purse, Fitt said.

"He wants people to consider him as a threat," Fitt said, arguing argument for detention.

In his rebuttal, Assistant Public Defender Matthew Landry said the woman owed the defendant money; he noted Ruffins holds a steady job.

The judge ultimately agreed with the prosecution and ordered Ruffins be detained, noting defendant had violated court orders in the past. Minger also ordered Ruffins to have no contact with four people who were named as witnesses or a victim in the case.

Ruffins is scheduled for an arraignment on Oct. 25.

Contact Kaitlyn Klepec at (309) 820-3345.

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Courts and Public Safety Reporter