Police

St. Joseph County E-911 Central Dispatch has announced “Text-to-9-1-1” service is now functioning in the county as of this week. Dennis Brandenburg, central dispatch director, said the agency is still stressing the concept: “9-1-1, call if you can, text if you can’t.” He said the “Text-to-9-1-1” concept was introduced to better assist people who have a speech or hearing impairment. …

A Michigan sheriff pledged Tuesday to review his department’s guidelines for transporting suspects charged with violent crimes after an detainee who was cuffed in front rather than behind his back wrested a gun from a deputy and killed two court bailiffs. Berrien County Sheriff Paul Bailey initially told reporters that Larry Darnell Gordon wasn’t handcuffed at all Monday during the …

A Sturgis man died over the weekend from injuries he suffered in a two-vehicle accident July 2 in Burr Oak Township. Family members said Jimmy Whitt, 55, passed away shortly after he was taken off life support Sunday afternoon at Bronson Methodist Hospital. Sheriff’s deputies said a United States Postal Service mail-transfer truck driven by 55-year-old Kenelm Digby, of Otsego, …

A 25-year-old Leonidas man was injured over the weekend after he was in a crash. Sheriff’s deputies said Isaac Eicher was driving north on Farrand Road in Colon Township, where he lost control of his vehicle shortly after 5 a.m. Sunday. The vehicle rolled over and struck a tree. Eicher was extricated from the vehicle. Investigators said he was not …

Records show a jail inmate who killed two bailiffs at a southwestern Michigan courthouse was locked up on major felony charges. State police records say Larry Darnell Gordon was charged in April with criminal sexual conduct, assault with a dangerous weapon and kidnapping. Authorities say the 44-year-old inmate overpowered a sheriff’s deputy at the Berrien County courthouse Monday, took his …

A southwestern Michigan police department has changed its policy on pursuits after a motorist was killed after her vehicle was hit by another car fleeing police. Portage’s public safety Director Richard White tells WOOD-TV his department is no longer chasing motorists for minor offenses. Officers still will chase violent felons and drivers posing threats to the public. White says: “I …

Two enclosed trailers were stolen over the weekend from a location in Mottville Township. State police investigators were called around 7 a.m. Saturday to the 68000 block of Union Road, where the victim told authorities the trailers were likely taken between 6 and 7 o’clock that morning. One measures eight-feet-wide by 20-feet in length. The second trailer is five-feet wide …

State police investigators are looking into a home invasion that occurred last week in Constantine Township. Troopers were called Thursday afternoon to the 65000 block of Constantine Road, where force was used to enter a residence between noon and 4 p.m. Among items stolen were a long gun, knives, jewelry boxes and jewelry.

A 6-year-old Three Rivers boy drowned over the holiday weekend in Kalamazoo County. According to Kalamazoo County Sheriff’s deputies, Carvell Johnson was found unresponsive in about three feet of water at 4:30 p.m. Sunday in Crooked Lake. The 162-acre body of water is in Texas Township. Family members told police Johnson was aboard a pontoon boat with adults and other …

A Constantine-area man was cited for domestic violence and possession of a firearm while under the influence of alcohol this week. State Police were notified around 10 p.m. Tuesday about a 60-year-old man allegedly armed with a rifle and threatening to kill his wife and himself at a residence in the 62000 block of Lutz Road in Constantine Township. The …