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Last updated on Friday, December 5, 2014
(BLOOMINGTON) - Bloomington Police arrested 43-year-old James Charles Connell on charges of attempted murder and robbery.
On Thursday at 11 a.m. officers and an ambulance were requested to 923 South Rogers Street, after a report of a man with serious injuries.
When officers arrived at the apartment the man told police he had been robbed.
The 55-year-old victim had suffered serious head, face, chest and throat injuries.
The man told police that he had allowed Connell, who was homeless, stay with him. Connell had offered to do some maintenance work for the man in exchange for a bus ticket to Cincinnati.
The man told police that he and Connell had been drinking throughout the night and the man couldn't remember much of what had happened after 1 a.m. Thursday morning.
The man told police that he awoke in his chair covered in blood and that Connell was no longer in the apartment. He also noticed that all of his money will missing from his wallet.
The man, who suffered a large cut over his eye, was having trouble seeing, so he took a shower.
The man then went to a neighbor's, who called police.
When police arrived they found a hammer near the victim's chair which they believed was the weapon Connell allegedly used to attack the victim.
The victim also suffered an injury to his neck, which police say was caused by some type of knife or other cutting instrument.
The victim was taken to IU Health Bloomington Hospital and then transferred to an Indianapolis hospital for treatment. Despite the serious nature of the injuries, the victim is expected to recover.
Detectives then began a search for Connell and monitored the bus station to see if Connell had purchased a ticket for Cincinnati.
Connell was found at a residence in the 100 block of Kennedy Court after police discovered he had communicated with someone there through his Facebook page.
Connell was arrested without incident on an outstanding warrant in Ripley County.
During the arrest, officers noticed Connell had a blood on his jeans. They were seized for evidence once Connell was booked into jail.
Connell declined to answer any questions and requested an attorney.
The case remains under investigation.
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