Police

The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners has agreed to move forward on a plan to enhance a drug-investigation division of the sheriff’s department. With the cities of Sturgis and Three Rivers agreeing to pledge their support, commissioners signed off on financially backing the St. Joseph County Area Narcotics unit. Spearheaded by Undersheriff Mark Lillywhite, the initiative will involve training …

A veteran officer with the Sturgis Police Department was announced the recipient of the fourth annual Mike Scott Investigator of the Year award. Patrolman Bill Lentz, who joined the Sturgis force in August 1987, was presented the award by Prosecutor John McDonough during Tuesday’s St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners meeting. The 54-year-old Lentz was recognized for his role in …

Police say a semi-truck hauling 41,000 pounds of meat has crashed on a southwestern Michigan exit ramp.  The crash happened early Wednesday on the ramp from southbound U.S. 131 to Interstate 94 in the Portage area.  Portage police say the driver had non-life threatening injuries and was taken to a hospital.  The truck partially blocked the interchange as crews cleaned …

Three Rivers police early Monday arrested three people suspected of being involved in larceny and breaking-and-entering incidents. According to police, a caller to central dispatch indicated subjects were breaking into vehicles parked in the area of East Michigan Avenue and Water Street around 3 a.m. With the help of the department’s canine unit, officers discovered someone had broken into Riverside …

The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department was called Wednesday to investigate the break-in to and vandalism of a pole barn in Burr Oak Township. According to a department media release, the building – located in the 33000 block of Deer Park Road – was entered. Windows were damaged by BBs from a pellet gun and thrown rocks, investigators said, further …

Police have released the identity of the man who died following an explosion at his home on Monday. 30-year-old David Loach died at Bronson Methodist Hospital, after he was severely injured in his garage at 109 South Andrews Street. Three Rivers Police say the explosion was caused by a chemical reaction during the production of methamphetamine. Law-enforcement is continuing their …

The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department is investigating the larceny of an irrigation traveler from a field in Leonidas Township. According to a department news release, the Heinzman traveler and 660 feet of blue hose were stolen from a field on Blossom Road, west of Shannon Road. The incident occurred last week, sometime between Monday and Friday.

A Sturgis resident in his mid-20s was arrested after he was found operating a methamphetamine lab out of his vehicle earlier this week. According to the Sturgis Police Department, the man was identified as a possible suspect in a retail-theft incident around 7 p.m. Tuesday at a business in the 800 block of South Centerville Road. During a follow-up investigation, …

A 30-year-old Three Rivers man who was injured in an explosion Monday afternoon has died, according to the Three Rivers Police Department. The victim was hurt in a garage at a residence in the 100 block of South Andrews Street, where a chemical reaction during the production of methamphetamine resulted in an explosion, police said. The victim was airlifted to …

Sturgis Police arrested two men early Tuesday for their alleged involvement in the theft of cigarettes from a gas station in LaGrange County. According to a media release, the two were stopped at an unspecified location in the city and the 33-year-old driver was found to have a suspended license. Consent was given to search the vehicle and officers uncovered …