Police

Investigators from the Michigan State Police Fire Marshall’s office were back at the scene of a fire Tuesday that destroyed a home in the 13000 block of Riverside Drive in Constantine Township earlier this week. Authorities said the cause of the fire was accidental, possibly from a candle. Constantine firefighters were called to the home about 9:30 p.m. Sunday. First-arriving …

Two Sturgis residents sought medical treatment after they were involved in a one-vehicle accident this week in Fawn River Township. State police said 51-year-old Frank Carney was driving west on U.S. 12 at 3:15 p.m. Monday when the van he was operating lost control due to road conditions near Plumb School Road. The van, a 2006 Ford Econoline, went off …

The case of a Three Rivers woman who allegedly stabbed a man Nov. 21 is expected to head to trial. During court action earlier this month, Cheri Sparks, 54, waived a preliminary examination. Consequently, the matter is moving forward to a trial at Circuit Court. Sparks is charged with assault with intent to murder following an incident involving a 51-year-old …

Various tools valued at nearly $2,000 were stolen last week from a pole barn in Constantine Township. State police were called Dec. 22 to the 62000 block of Beers Road after the owner noticed the items were taken overnight. A similar incident occurred a week earlier, the victim told authorities. A department media release did not indicate the manner in …

A gas station in Sherman Township was robbed Sunday night. The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department said the suspect entered the Marathon station in the 64000 block of M-66 shortly before 11 p.m. and robbed an employee of an undisclosed amount of cash. The suspect was described as a white man, approximately six feet tall, and wearing a white mask …

Members of the Constantine Village Council are studying a proposal to ban assault weapons. No mention was made at last week’s council meeting regarding a problem with such weapons within the village. Police chief Mark Honeysett said a memo regarding the matter was included in council packets for review at the request of village president Pat Weiss. Weiss was absent …

A 43-year-old Cassopolis man has died in a one-vehicle accident in Cass County’s Volinia Township. Sheriff Joe Underwood said deputies were called around 1 a.m. Wednesday to Dutch Settlement Road, east of Lawrence Road. Investigators said the vehicle was traveling east on Dutch Settlement Road when it left the roadway and struck a tree. Deputies attempted to revive the subject …

M-66 in Sherman Township was closed for about two hours this week after a semi tractor-trailer lost its load of lumber. Sheriff’s department officials said 51-year-old Bryan Wolfe of Saginaw was driving south on M-66 around 5:40 p.m. Tuesday, when he stopped to avoid a traffic backup near Hackman Road. His load of lumber broke free and crashed through the …

St. Joseph County Circuit Court Judge Paul Stutesman has sentenced Maria Williams to a maximum of 35 years in prison for the 2014 shooting death of a 33-year-old Burr Oak-area man. Stutesman on Tuesday issued the sentence, stemming from a March 2014 case involving Williams and Dennis Brooks. Williams had been accused of shooting Brooks once in the head during …

St. Joseph County deputies responded to separate complaints earlier this month; one regarding larcenies from a number of vehicles in Lockport Township, the other involved the theft of two riding mowers in Park Township. On Dec. 11, investigators were called to the area of Timm Road and Lovers Lane after a number of residents reported their vehicles were entered overnight …