Police

Rescued exotic animals receive treatment

The Black Pine Animal Sanctuary, where a pair of exotic animals removed last month from a Mottville Township residence is receiving medical treatment, has provided an update on the condition of the animals it took in. A monkey is in quarantine. At the time of its removal, it weighed less than 10 pounds, was emaciated and dehydrated, and deprived of …

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Sheriff’s department warns of telephone scams

The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department has fielded a number of reports from residents complaining of telephone calls claiming to be from the Internal Revenue Service. Sheriff Balk said the IRS does not conduct business by telephone. He encourages people to do the following if they receive such phone calls: Record the employee’s name, return-call number and caller ID if …

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Owner charged after dog found beaten with baseball bat

A Battle Creek man has been charged after police found his dog badly beaten on his back porch. The husky mix had been beaten with an aluminum baseball bat and shot at least once with a pellet rifle when officers arrived. A Battle Creek police officer shot and killed the dog Tuesday night because of the severity of its wounds. Police …

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Area agencies conducted emergency preparedness drill

Representatives from Glen Oaks Community College and the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department conducted an emergency-preparedness drill Tuesday. School officials said the drill was staged to provide college employees, and local and state police agencies a chance to practice responding to an active shooter incident on campus. Participants from public-safety and medical-response agencies in the county also had a role …

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Two vehicle crash in Cass County

Driving too fast for conditions was determined to be a factor in a two-vehicle crash last week in Cass County’s Newburg Township. Sheriff Joe Underwood said deputies were called shortly after 5 p.m. Thursday to the intersection of Lewis Lake and Brownsville roads. Investigators concluded a car driven by 22-year-old Elkhart resident Christine Rossi was driving south on Lewis Lake …

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Man injured in single vehicle crash

Alcohol is being cited as a factor that contributed to a one-vehicle crash Sunday night in Mottville Township. State police said a 25-year-old Goshen man was driving west on U.S. 12 when he lost control of his pickup. The vehicle struck a curb, lost a wheel and struck Jaywalker’s restaurant at the intersection of M-103. The vehicle then rolled over, …

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Man dies from carbon monoxide poisoning

An Indiana man died last week, while five family members in Cass County were treated for carbon monoxide poisoning at their Jefferson Township residence. Sheriff Joe Underwood said deputies responded at 5:30 a.m. Friday to 66280 Indian Lane near Edwardsburg. Cass County’s central dispatch received an alert from the residence indicating that the caller felt dizzy, faint and short of …

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Compliance checks lead to several arrests

Eight arrests were made last week in a series of parole- and probation-compliance checks. The St. Joseph County Area Narcotics unit assisted the Michigan Department of Corrections in conducting the checks Thursday. In all, five residences throughout the county were searched, resulting in the eight arrests. Sheriff’s department officials said arrests were made at locations in Sturgis and White Pigeon …

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Man dies after crash

A 33-year-old Colon man died Wednesday night following injuries sustained in a one- vehicle accident in Colon Township. Sheriff’s deputies said the man, whose identity was not indicated in a department media release, was driving north on Farrand Road when he failed to negotiate a curve at Paradise Road, and his vehicle went off the roadway and struck a cluster …

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Search warrant leads to drug arrests

A citizen’s tip led to the arrests of two people Wednesday afternoon at a residence in White Pigeon Township. Investigators from the St. Joseph County Area Narcotics unit executed a search warrant at the residence, located in the 21000 block of U.S. 12, and found methamphetamine, LSD, marijuana, packaging material and several items of drug paraphernalia. A man and a …

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