BLOOMINGTON - McLean County Board member Robert Nuckolls was arrested Thursday on allegations that he violated an order of protection.

Bloomington police spokesman Duane Moss confirmed that Nuckolls, 46, had been arrested by police and was booked at the McLean County jail shortly before noon. He remained in custody Thursday night, but formal charges by the state's attorney's office had not been filed.

Robert Nuckolls

Margaret Nelson, who is the subject of an order of protection involving Nuckolls, called police at 9:09 a.m. and reported seeing Nuckolls in the area outside her home on Christopher Way, according to police reports.

An officer saw Nuckolls run through a parking lot and get into his car, police said.

He was stopped and questioned by police. He told the officer his wife lives in the area, a police report said.

Charges have not been filed in McLean County Circuit Court.

Nuckolls' attorney, Jonathan Backman, said the McLean County state's attorney's office indicated that an outside prosecutor may be sought to handle the case involving the County Board member.

"I think that's appropriate under the circumstances," Backman said of the decision.

Backman said he was waiting for word on whether the state appellate prosecutor's office would become involved in the case.

He said Nuckolls may remain jailed until bond would be set at a hearing today.

Earlier this summer, Nuckolls agreed to a two-year order of protection filed against him by Margaret Nelson and her daughter, Megan Nelson. As part of the court agreement, the two women agreed not to initiate contact with him.

Nuckolls was transferred from his position as Illinois State University's director of parking and transportation services about two weeks ago after an investigation into the incident involving the two women, according to ISU spokesman Jay Groves. Margaret Nelson and Nuckolls both work at ISU.

"Following an investigation by the university's Office of Diversity and Affirmative Action, he was administratively transferred from Parking Services to the Office of Environmental Health and Safety," Groves said.

In his new position, Nuckolls handles issues involving sanitation and workplace accidents.

The McLean County Board previously hired an outside attorney to review the matter because Megan Nelson works for the county. It has begun implementing some anti-harassment policy recommendations made by attorney Richard Kearney, said Eric Ruud, a civil assistant state's attorney assigned to represent the board.

In the newest matter involving Nuckolls, the County Board will wait and see what charges are brought and whether there will be a special prosecutor, Ruud said.

"He continues to serve and can continue unless he is convicted of a felony," Ruud added.