Balk presents annual report

Cases associated with marijuana and methamphetamine were the most common drug-related incidents handled by the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department in 2015.
Led by Sheriff Brad Balk and aided largely by Captain Jason Bingaman, the department’s annual report was presented to the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners Tuesday.
The report featured an assortment of statistics related to crime, narcotics and other components of the Centreville-based agency. Bingaman said investigations by the department last year led to 253 drug charges over the 12-month period. Seventy-two were tied to marijuana while 40 were connected to meth. According to the report, 66 charges were filed for what was labeled “other dangerous drugs.”
He said the department is also seeing a rise in the illegal use of prescription pills.
As for crime in general, Bingaman indicated about half of the 792 crimes reported in 2015 were considered non-criminal.
Board chairman Allen Balog thanked Balk for the report and said he especially appreciates seeing a portion of the department’s staff in attendance.