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.

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.

Backyard BBQ Competition

Organizers of the 2013 Three Rivers Water Festival are promoting a new addition to the annual event.

A backyard barbecue competition, sponsored by Kackies Que and Century Bank and Trust, will take place 2 to 9 p.m. June 14 in the Community Tent area at the back of Scidmore Park.

An entry fee of $55 will include fees, awards, prize money and three racks of ribs to be used for the competition. Participants must attend a meeting with the Health Department prior to the day of the competition; they will review rules and regulations for the event. The entry fee is due by 5 p.m. June 1.

Interested potential participants may call 615-7781. The event is limited to 20 participants.

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.

New fire truck for White Pigeon

Members of the White Pigeon Fire Department recently took delivery of a new truck.

The 2013 Rosenbauer pumper and rescue will be in service by early June. The truck must first be outfitted with rescue and firefighting equipment, Township Supervisor Don Gloy said.

The truck holds 1,000 gallons of water, but has the capability to pump 1,500 gallons of water a minute.

Gloy said the cost of the truck was $460,000 and was built with specifications and features designed by firefighters.

Federal appeals court rules

A federal appeals court ruled last week that a jury should decide whether the rights of a Sturgis resident were violated by officers from the Sturgis Police Department.

A three-judge panel from the 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Friday rendered its opinion regarding the 2010 incident involving then-20-year-old Charles Smith over the theft of a phone charger from Walgreens in Sturgis.

Officers Damon Knapp and Mark Stonebrunner investigated the incident and allegedly used excessive force when attempting to arrest Smith at his residence. Attorneys for Smith claim their client’s head was slammed against a wall as officers handcuffed him, and he also sustained a wrist injury as a result of handcuffs being locked too tightly around his wrists.

Lawyers on behalf of the city indicated Smith was resisting arrest and the force was warranted in order to get him to comply with police. Smith was charged with third-degree retail fraud but he eventually pleaded to a lesser misdemeanor of disturbing the peace.

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