Police

Manhunt in western Branch County

A manhunt is over, as police have located the remaining two suspects from a group of four near the Branch-St. Joseph county line. The search began near Bronson Saturday afternoon, when a neighbor called authorities after hearing people shooting off guns nearby. When police responded, four men fled into the woods and cornfield, resulting in a manhunt that included Michigan …

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Police need your help

Police are asking the public for help to locate a man in connection with a stabbing that occurred last week in Sturgis. Vladmir S. Cofield Sr. is wanted on a charge of attempted murder following an incident that occurred Wednesday. Cofield is accused of stabbing a Three Rivers man just after 1 p. m. in the 400 block of Center …

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More drug arrests in TR

Two people were arrested on drug-related charges last week in the city of Three Rivers. The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department said investigators from the St. Joseph County Area Narcotics unit executed a search warrant Thursday at a residence in the 900 block of 5th Street following an ongoing investigation. SCAN officers obtained and executed a search warrant. Upon completing …

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Officials deal with environmental side of big freeway pileup

State officials are trying to determine who is responsible for environmental contamination that occurred as a result of a massive pileup on snowy Interstate 94 in southwestern Michigan six months ago. The Jan. 9 chain-reaction crashes killed a 57-year-old trucker and closed a stretch of the roadway for two days. Police announced in March that dozens of drivers were being …

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Arson suspected as cause of TR house fire

A warrant is being sought for an Indiana man suspected of being involved in an arson incident Monday at a residence in Three Rivers. Fire crews were called to the 400 block of South Main Street around 2:30 a.m., where the front end of a residence was in flames upon firefighters’ arrival. The victim told investigators she was trying to …

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Fatal motorcycle accident

A 33-year-old Constantine man died in a motorcycle accident over the weekend in Constantine Township. Sheriff’s deputies said James Carlson was driving east on Featherstone Road at 3:05 a.m. Saturday when he failed to negotiate a curve a half mile west of Constantine Road. His 2014 Harley Davidson went off the roadway and crashed into two trees. Authorities said Carlson …

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Court takes case about backyard visit by deputies

The Michigan Supreme Court has agreed to decide whether deputies acted lawfully when they walked to the rear of a home without a warrant and learned there was marijuana growing inside. The case from St. Joseph County centers on the actions of two deputies in 2011. The outcome could have an impact on police tactics statewide. The deputies skipped the …

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Three Rivers Police K-9 passed away

Three Rivers police K-9 Hondo passed away last month at Michigan State University following a battle with cancer. Hondo had worked for the department the past five years. Officer Matt Stark, Hondo’s handler, said his companion was a happy and loyal dog. In his five years on the force, Hondo was able to help police locate several fugitives in and …

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Woman injured in single vehicle crash

Speed and alcohol may have been factors in a one-vehicle crash that injured a woman Tuesday in Nottawa Township, according to the St. Joseph County Sheriff ’s Department. Deputies said Jennifer Ann Bainbridge was driving west on Cupp Road near the intersection of Walterspaugh about 1:30 p.m., when the vehicle left the road just east of Walterspaugh. The car slid …

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Boy, 14, has hand blown off by homemade firework device

Police say a 14-year-old boy had his left hand blown off by a homemade firework device in southwestern Michigan. The Benton Harbor Department of Public Safety says the child and a 12-year-old boy were injured on Tuesday afternoon. Officers responded and the boys were hospitalized for treatment. Police say the 12-year-old had minor injuries to his face. Police didn’t immediately …

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