WLKM Radio 95.9 FM
The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department arrested a Sturgis man last week on charges related to the suspect allegedly holding a woman captive for nearly two weeks and assaulting her.
According to sheriff’s deputies, 37-year-old Rocky Gardner has been charged with assault to do great bodily harm less than murder, domestic violence and unlawful imprisonment.
Following his arrest March 20, then a second arrest five days later, he was arraigned Friday and remains in the county jail.
Sturgis police said officers were contacted shortly after noon March 20 and were told a woman was at Parkview Hospital in LaGrange for treatment of assault injuries suffered in Sturgis. The responding officer learned the woman had been held against her will for the previous 12 days by her boyfriend.
Sturgis officers obtained a search warrant for the suspect’s home and, with help from St. Joseph County sheriff’s deputies, arrested him.
Following his second arrest March 25, Gardner was formally charged on eight counts of first-degree criminal sexual conduct, according to court records.
