County Information

A former Centreville teacher faces eight counts of criminal sexual conduct second degree and one count criminal sexual conduct fourth degree. Terry Miller, 46, of Centreville was released Thursday following a bond hearing after he was arrested Wednesday. The investigation began in mid-May after school officials contacted police. He was placed on paid suspension until July 27, when the district’s …

A 65-year-old White Pigeon man accused of unlawful imprisonment and felonious assault is free on bond. Daniel Furlong was released after posting $50,000 cash/surety bond Thursday evening. It is alleged that on July 28, Furlong attempted to hold a 10-year-old girl against her will. The victim told police she was walking by Furlong’s trailer in Colonial Estates mobile home community when …

A complaint for declaratory judgment regarding the attempt to dismiss three members from the Community Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services Authority Board was filed Wednesday in St. Joseph County Circuit Court. The action comes on the heels of a CMHSAS special board meeting Monday, during which its members directed Grand Rapids-based attorney John Gretzinger to file the declaratory judgment …

A 32-year-old Dowagiac man is in custody after breaking into a Howard Township residence earlier this week. Cass County Sheriff Joe Underwood said deputies were alerted around 4 a.m. Sunday by a woman who advised that a male acquaintance of hers had climbed through her bathroom window and made his way to her bedroom. She awoke and saw the suspect …

Sturgis police arrested four people believed to be responsible for a drive-by shooting that occurred Tuesday in Sturgis. Police arrested two 16-year-old males and a 17-year-old male. On Wednesday, police identified a fourth suspect, a 32-year-old Sturgis man, and were in the process of obtaining a warrant for his arrest. Officers received a tip about his location, and found him …

Several hours after tending to a suspected arson at an abandoned house on Peck Academy Road, Constantine firefighters were called to another blaze Monday in the 62000 block of Constantine Road in Florence Township. Just before 10:30 a.m., residents said they smelled something hot and saw smoke in an attached garage. Fire personnel arrived less than 10 minutes later. The …

A longtime retailer in Sturgis will be closing later this year. Kmart, located on South Centerville Road, will shut its doors in mid-November, said Howard Riefs, director of corporate communications for Sears Holdings. A liquidation sale is expected to begin Aug. 30. Store closures are part of a series of actions being taken to reduce on-going expenses, adjust the company’s …

A 15-year-old girl from Sturgis was arrested Monday after she attempted to stab a Sturgis police officer. According to a department media release, the officer approached the girl shortly after 1 a.m. at Lakeview and Congress streets, as she was in violation of the city’s curfew for teenagers. The girl started walking away from the officer, and he grabbed her …

A sharp-eyed, off-duty deputy from the Cass County Sheriff’s Department led to the arrest of two of three suspects involved in a home-invasion incident over the weekend. Sheriff Joe Underwood said the arrests took place shortly after 6 p.m. Saturday in the 28000 block of Coulter Road. Underwood said an off-duty reserve deputy observed a suspicious vehicle parked in the …

The Colon Fire Department will soon begin the expensive task of replacing old gear. Last week, it received help toward that goal from Independent Transmission Company with a donation of $650. ITC is the nation’s largest independent electricity transmission company. Karyn Boyd, from ITC, presented Colon Fire Chief Matt Overholt with the $650 check. Overholt said he had applied for …