Police

Authorities investigate dead body found in Florence Township

St. Joseph County authorities continue to investigate the death of a man whose body was found along a road early Monday in Florence Township. St. Joseph County Sheriff’s deputies were called around 4 a.m. to Klinger Lake Road, just north of Mintdale Road, where deputies found the body of an unidentified man. Investigators remained at the scene until late morning …

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Jodi Parrack investigation continues

Law-enforcement officials investigating the 2007 case involving the homicide of 11-year-old Jodi Parrack are pursuing a new avenue, thanks to a change in Michigan’s DNA collection law. A 65-year-old White Pigeon man, arrested in August for allegedly assaulting and restricting with a dangerous weapon a 10-year-old neighbor, is not considered a person of interest in the Parrack homicide, said Constantine …

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Traffic stop leads to arrest of man in teen’s sexual assault

State police have arrested a 52-year-old man in connection with the sexual assault of a 14-year-old boy at a southern Michigan cemetery. WOOD-TV and WXMI-TV report that the man and boy were in a van stopped about 2:30 a.m. Tuesday. The trooper learned during the traffic stop that the boy had been sexually assaulted at a cemetery in Coldwater. The …

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Electronic items stolen from home

Electronic items were stolen from a Colon Township residence last week. The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department was called Friday to the 54000 block of Correll Road in response to the daytime incident. The victim told investigators he was gone for a 90-minute period and during that time, someone forced entry by kicking in a door to the residence.

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State police get new, high-tech devices to stop bad guys

Michigan State Police are being equipped with a set of new, high-tech “stop sticks” that will be deployed during risky high-speed chases on Interstate 94 in southwestern Michigan. The Van Buren County Prosecutor authorized the purchase of the Night Hawk devices at a cost of $2,800 each, using a portion of funds seized through civil forfeiture, Prosecutor Mike Bedford told …

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Police task force investigating reported freeway shootings

A police task force is investigating reports of shots fired at vehicles along two freeways in western Michigan. WOOD-TV and the Battle Creek Enquirer report Thursday that the first reported daylight shooting occurred Aug. 19 when a car’s side view mirror was struck on Interstate 94 near Marshall. Other motorists have contacted authorities about similar incidents on mostly rural parts …

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Motorcycle accident in Marcellus

A Marcellus man was injured after the motorcycle he was driving struck a parked car in downtown Marcellus this week. Cass County Sheriff’s Department officials said Ronald Mikel, 50, was driving east on Main Street shortly after 12:30 a.m. Thursday, when he became distracted and the motorcycle swerved to the right. As a result, it hit a parked car, causing …

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One person died in Florence Township accident

A 22-year-old Sturgis resident died in a two-vehicle accident Tuesday evening in Florence Township. State police said Jesse Haack was the operator of a vehicle backing out of a driveway on Dickinson Road shortly before 7 p.m., when it was struck by a westbound car driven by Delrico McGee, 20, of Constantine. The incident took place just west of Sevison …

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Breaking and entering in Fabius

The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department responded this week to a breaking-and-entering incident at a residence in Fabius Township. According to a department media release, the situation was investigated Monday in the 12000 block of Coon Hollow Road. Sheriff’s officials said it appears the suspects made entry through a basement window at the rear of the residence. Items just small …

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$1 million bond set at arraignment

St. Joseph County Prosecutor John McDonough offered praise to investigators involved in the arrest last week of Three Rivers shooting suspect Westley George. McDonough stated in a media release that the situation “was difficult (but) handled professionally and without incident.” McDonough also expressed his condolences and prayers to the family and friends of victim Eugene Jackson. The 24-year-old Jackson died …

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