Cass County

Cass County prosecutor Victor Fitz formally charged 23-year-old Elkhart resident William Henderson with one count of open murder last week. Henderson is accused in Tuesday’s stabbing death of Juan Mendez, 24, who had lived in the Elkhart area as well as Puerto Rico. Mendez was stabbed early Tuesday during an altercation at Ameri-Kart in Cassopolis. After the stabbing, Henderson attempted …

An Elkhart man died after he was involved in a workplace altercation Wednesday in Cass County’s Mason Township. Sheriff Richard J. Behnke said deputies were called shortly before 5:30 a.m. to Ameri-Kart, a business in the 19300 block of Grange Street. While Deputies and ambulances were en route, it was discovered that one of the employees had stabbed the other …

A Lansing teenager died Wednesday in Cass County after a tree fell on the vehicle in which he was a passenger. Sheriff Richard Behnke said deputies were called at 6:35 a.m. to M-40 near Harvey Street in Newberg Township. Investigators were told a pickup driven by 52-year-old Michael Rinehart of Lansing was northbound on M-40 when a tree fell on …

An Indiana man was arrested on charges that include fleeing and eluding following a two-state pursuit that concluded early Wednesday in Cass County. Sheriff Richard Behnke said deputies were advised around 2:20 a.m. Wednesday that a suspect was being pursued stemming from an incident in Elkhart. The chase continued into Cass County, where deputies spotted the vehicle near Calvin Center …

A Three Rivers man was involved in a single-vehicle accident Monday in Cass County. Sheriff Joe Underwood said deputies were called shortly after 11:30 a.m. to the intersection of M-205 and Cassopolis Road in Mason Township. Underwood said 20-year-old Rickey Richards was driving north on M-205 when he lost control of his vehicle. His car ran off the road and …

An Indiana teenager died in a two-vehicle accident over the weekend in Cass County. Sheriff Joe Underwood Jr. said a car driven by Lucas Lambright, 17, of Millersburg, Ind., was northbound on M-40 shortly before 12:30 p.m. Sunday in Newburg Township. Lambright lost control of his vehicle and crossed the center line. Lambright’s vehicle ended up in the path of …

State Rep. Aaron Miller on Wednesday announced a Dowagiac company has received a state grant that will enable the manufacturer to expand its local plant and create 87 jobs. Miller said Dorel Home Furnishings has been awarded a $348,000 Michigan Business Development Program performance-based grant to enlarge its Dowagiac plant. The manufacturer of ready-to-assemble furniture has reached its capacity for …

Alcohol is suspected as a factor in a single-vehicle accident last week in Cass County. Sheriff’s department officials said a 22-year-old Marcellus man was driving southbound on South Snyder Street around 10 p.m. Friday in the village of Marcellus. The man failed to obey a stop sign at South Street and his vehicle crashed into a residence at the three-way …

A variety of stolen items was discovered by sheriff’s deputies following a traffic stop at 1 a.m. Thursday in Park Township. According to a department media release, a road patrol sergeant stopped a dirt bike on Buckhorn Road near Heimbach Road. During their investigation, deputies found that the dirt bike had been stolen out of Cass County the day before. …

The Cass County Sheriff’s Department is investigating a missing-person report in the village of Vandalia. Ramona Huffman, 48, was last seen shortly after 9 o’clock Tuesday night, when she left her home to walk to a nearby gas station. Her family attempted for several hours to find her before calling police. Huffman is 5 feet, 6 inches tall and weighs …