Police

State police were called last week to a Branch County business in response to an armed robbery. According to a department media release, a man described as a skinny white male entered A.J. Butler’s General Store on Clarendon Road in Butler Township around 6:45 p.m. Friday. The man, wearing sunglasses and a bandana over a portion of his face, displayed …

A White Pigeon High School student has been arrested on a terrorism charge after allegedly making threats last week at school. Phillip Duane Stephenson, 18, is accused of making what school officials call threats to building safety. Stephenson has been suspended indefinitely, officials said. White Pigeon Superintendent Jon Keyer said he and school administrators determined valid statements were made and …

A federal agency and a firearms trade association are offering a reward of up to $4,000 for information leading to the prosecution of the party responsible for the theft of 21 guns last week from a Sturgis business. The Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives is teaming with the National Shooting Sports Foundation to offer the reward. It is …

The man accused of murdering 11-year-old Jodi Parrack eight years ago has waived his right to a preliminary examination. The matter involving suspect Daniel Furlong occurred during a judicial proceeding Thursday before District Court Judge Jeff Middleton. Furlong, 65, will stand trial for the murder, Middleton ruled. Furlong faces charges of open murder, felony murder, kidnapping and second-degree criminal sexual …

The St. Joseph County Child Trauma Assessment Group was provided $50,000 to help it meet a projected budget shortfall. The request was pitched last week to members of the county board of commissioners by Probate Court Judge David Tomlinson and probate court director Thomas Robertson. Tomlinson said the state might refund St. Joseph County half of the $50,000, but the …

A Jackson-based company was selected last week to replace the existing wireless connection at the county’s Animal Control facility. County commission members have accepted a $6,100 bid from Challenger Technologies LLC to install fiber-optic cable from Animal Control to the sheriff’s department. Teresa Doehring, county human resources director, said the replacement will significantly improve the quality and reliability of data …

A clerk at the Admiral gas station at 1207 E. Chicago Road in Sturgis was robbed early Monday. Sturgis police were informed that a man had robbed the station at gunpoint shortly after midnight, taking an undisclosed amount of money. No additional details are available, as police are working with store officials to investigate the incident.

The Michigan Department of Corrections is revising rates for inmate phone calls after the Federal Communications Commission decided to reduce the cost of jail and prison phone calls. Corrections Department spokesman Chris Gautz tells The Detroit News officials are working to determine how the change will impact revenue. The department last year generated $11.5 million from inmate calls. The money …

An employee at a Sturgis Township business was the victim of an armed robbery last week. Sheriff’s department officials said the agency was summoned shortly after 11 p.m. Thursday to the Citgo gas station on U.S. 12 at Balk Road in response to an armed robbery. No other information was available from the department.

Three Rivers police last week arrested a 27-year-old man wanted as a fugitive from justice. Terrell Reese, a Three Rivers resident, was arrested Wednesday after officers receive a tip regarding Reese’s location. As officers attempted to apprehend Reese, he fled on foot but was eventually tracked down by the department’s K9 unit. Reese was arrested in the vicinity of 14th …