Police

SJC Central Dispatch issues annual report

St. Joseph County Central’s Dispatch had a demanding year in 2017, marked by failures of equipment, shortage of manpower and a significant amount of overtime. Still, director Dennis Brandenburg, said the agency between 9-1-1 and non-emergency calls fielded more than 96,000 calls last year. The information was provided during a recent annual report presented to the St. Joseph County Board …

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Crash in Penn Township

An out-of-state resident was injured after he was involved in a three-vehicle crash last week in Cass County’s Penn Township. Sheriff Richard Behnke said deputies were called at 10 a.m. Friday to the intersection of Decatur Road and Kelsey Lake Street, where 19-year-old Jason Thrasher of Jasper, Ind., had failed to stop his vehicle at a stop sign. He was …

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Serious injuries – Cass County crash

Two Niles residents were seriously injured after the dirt bike on which they were riding struck a deer. Cass County sheriff deputies said the incident occurred around 11 p.m. Friday in the area of Wells Street and Reynolds Road in Pokagon Township. Deputies were called to Borgess Lee Memorial Hospital in Dowagiac, where two subjects were dropped off by a …

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Man arrested on drug charges

An Indiana man was arrested on drug-related charges this week in Cass County. The Cass County Drug Enforcement Team, in conjunction with the Ontwa Township Edwardsburg Police Department, executed a search warrant Wednesday in the 70000 block of Kenmore Drive. Upon searching the residence, detectives discovered methamphetamine, marijuana and methamphetamine paraphernalia. A 41-year-old man from Goshen was charged with possession …

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Guns stolen in breakin

State police are investigating a residential burglary in Branch County’s Union Township, where seven firearms were stolen. The incident occurred between 9:30 a.m. and 4 p.m. Wednesday in the 200 block of Mauer Road. A department media release did not indicate the manner in which access into the residence was gained.

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Home owner shoots would-be intruder

A Branch County home-invasion incident was interrupted when the owner of the residence shot and struck one of the three would-be intruders. State police said the incident occurred around 12:30 a.m. Tuesday in the 1200 block of Berlew Road in Algansee Township, where the suspects broke out windows and attempted to break-in through the front door. After the homeowner fired …

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Man injured in crash

The Cass County Sheriff’s Department investigated a single-vehicle rollover incident that occurred this week in Newberg Township. Sheriff Richard Behnke said 29-year-old Duquawn Edwards, of Goshen, was driving around 12:30 a.m. Wednesday on M-40 near Hoffman Road. Edwards told deputies he fell asleep and his vehicle rolled several times before coming to rest on the other side of the road, …

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Police: Man hit, scratched officer before suspect was shot

A northern Indiana police officer who shot and critically wounded a man reportedly opened fire after the man hit and scratched his face. Police records identify the South Bend officer as Samuel Chaput and the wounded man as 27-year-old Terrance Eppenger of South Bend. The St. Joseph County Metro Homicide Unit says officers were called to the scene Tuesday evening …

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Lawn mower stolen in Sturgis

A Sturgis Township juvenile is suspected of stealing a lawn mower earlier this week. State police said a riding mower was stolen between 3 and 6 p.m. Monday from the vicinity of Balk Road and U.S. 12 in Sturgis Township. A woman notified central dispatch around 6 p.m. to advise authorities her son was in possession of the mower believed …

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Cass County crash injures woman

An Edwardsburg woman was injured after the car she was driving went off the roadway and struck a tree in Cass County’s Porter Township. Sheriff Richard Behnke said deputies were notified at 11:55 a.m. Monday that a personal-injury crash had occurred on Shavehead Lake Road near M-40. Upon further investigation, authorities discovered 57-year-old Karen Pierucki, was driving westbound when the …

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