Three Sturgis men indicted

Three Sturgis men are among 20 people from Michigan, Indiana and Ohio indicted on charges of running a major operation smuggling cocaine and methamphetamine from Mexico for sale near Fort Wayne.

Federal prosecutors last week said Gelacio Martinez, 36; Juan Pena, 20; and John Bennett, 35, were allegedly involved in the operation.

All three face charges of conspiracy to distribute cocaine, possession with intent to distribute cocaine and the use of a communication facility.

U. S. Attorney David Capp announced the indictments last Friday at a news conference in Fort Wayne.

Two involved in crash

Two area residents were involved in a car crash Monday in Lockport Township.

The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department said Carol Sission, 77, of Constantine, was southbound on U.S. 131 when she failed to stop at the traffic signal at Wilbur Road. Her vehicle struck a car driven by 29-year-old Colon resident Amber Laclair, who had the right of way and was proceeding through the intersection.

A department media release does not indicate the extent of injuries suffered by Sisson or Laclair.

Resident avoids phone scam

A St. Joseph County resident avoided being the victim of a telephone-solicitation scam Tuesday.

The resident received on their home phone a call from someone claiming to represent a company called YHG. The suspect indicated they would be sending new Medicare cards and just needed the potential victim’s name, address and account number off of a checking account belonging to the person they called.

YHG advised $463 of a $500 charge would be refunded after the information was secured.

The resident was suspicious of the request and did not provide any information and instead questioned the person calling. YHG provided a verification phone number; when the resident called that number, there was no answer. The resident then called their bank and froze their checking account.

Sheriff investigating homicide

The Cass County Sheriff’s Office and three other law-enforcement agencies have agreed to look into the unsolved homicide of Ada Haradine, an Elkhart resident.

Haradine disappeared from her home in May 1985 and was reported missing by her family that day and investigated by Elkhart Police.

Her remains were found three years later in the Cass County community of Union.

Investigators have resubmitted to the Michigan State Police Crime Laboratory evidence seized over the subsequent years for a more up-to-date examination.

Woman ticketed for accident

A White Pigeon woman was ticketed for being unable to stop within an assured distance following a two-vehicle accident Monday in Sturgis Township.

The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department said Tambra Bryant, 48, was cited after she swerved to avoid striking the rear of a car that had slowed on westbound U.S. 12 in front of Lake Area Veterinary Clinic.

Bryant drove onto the north shoulder of the roadway and struck the side of a vehicle turning into the vet clinic. The second vehicle was driven by 61-year-old Julie Outlaw of Sherwood.

Bryant’s vehicle continued across the yard of the vet clinic, striking a bush and concrete sign, and continued into a field west of the business.

Poultry stolen

Thirty chickens and a duck were reported stolen from a Mendon Township residence earlier this week.

St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department deputies were called Monday to the 23000 block of Portage Lake Road, where the victim told police the animals were taken late Sunday or early Monday.

The animals were about two months old and different varieties.

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