Police

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 …

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 …

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 …

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 …

The Schoolcraft Police Department is trying to identify two people of interest related to the theft of a donation jar. The jar was taken from the check-out area shortly after 3 p.m. June 17 at the Citgo gas station, 620 N. Grand St. A male and female have been identified in security video as being people of interest in the …

Michigan State Police continue to investigate the theft of items from a vehicle in the 11000 block of Flowerfield Road in Flowerfield Township. Stolen were several locksmith tools, including a portable key-making machine.

A 33-year-old Marcellus man was injured over the weekend in a motorcycle accident in Fabius Township. County sheriff’s deputies said the man was driving east on Coon Hollow Road around 6 p.m. Saturday when he lost control near Vernon Road, went off the right side of the roadway and the motorcycle struck a mailbox. The driver was thrown into the …

A medical condition is suspected as the reason an Indiana man drove his vehicle off the roadway and into a tree last week in Fabius Township. Sheriff’s deputies said Delmer Wireman, 34, of LaPorte, Ind., was driving west on M-60 near Youngs Prairie Road when he experienced a medical issue that caused him to lose consciousness. His van rolled onto …

Police say a 47-year-old man has died after a large firework shell he was holding exploded near his head in suburban Detroit. The Oakland Press of Pontiac says the Oakland County medical examiner’s office identifies him as Scott Jeffers of Walled Lake. Walled Lake Police Chief Paul Shakinas tells the Detroit Free Press that Sunday night’s explosion happened in front …

St. Joseph County officials hope a program they have discussed will increase the number of quality candidates for deputy positions with the sheriff’s department. During an executive committee meeting earlier this month, county administrator Pat Yoder said undersheriff Mark Lillywhite proposed an idea that is an option for not having a strong candidate pool. Yoder said the process begins with …