Police

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 …

Two people were taken to the hospital following a two-vehicle accident earlier this week in Fabius Township. According to the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department, 76-year-old Mary Corban of South Bend was driving south on U.S. 131 when her vehicle collided with an eastbound car driven by Catherine Kull, 61, of Niles. Kull was on M-60 and, according to investigators, …

Three Rivers police are seeking community assistance to identify a suspect wanted for several cases of retail fraud. Police say the man is a black male in his late 40s. He is wanted in connection with several retail frauds in April and June. Thefts exceeded $ 1,000 in merchandise. Meanwhile, Michigan State Police are asking the public for help to …

A jury has found two defendants guilty of murder in the shooting death of an 18-year-old Elkhart man.  Nineteen-year-old Freddie Rhodes and 17-year-old Deante Dalton were convicted Monday after their attorneys declined to call witnesses to testify. They each face up to 65 years in prison.  Rhodes and Dalton were found responsible for the death of Dre Tarrious Rodgers under …

A Sturgis man was not injured in a two-vehicle accident that sent three people to the hospital last week in Cass County. Sheriff’s department deputies said Scott Yoder, 38, was attempting to turn left onto U.S. 12 from M-217 when he failed to yield the right of way to an eastbound car driven by Joanne Mead, 57, of Edwardsburg. Mead …

State Rep. Aaron Miller last week praised Gov. Rick Snyder for signing a fiscally responsible budget that increases funding for classrooms and continues to build a solid public-safety foundation. Miller, chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee on State Police, said the 2015-2016 budget pays down debt while prioritizing spending for transportation, education and law enforcement. Miller said the budget, after …

A 30-year-old Jones woman entered a plea of no contest in a case related to an early-morning arson at a Three Rivers business last year. Fawn Mott appeared in St. Joseph County Circuit Court last week on a charge of arson, third degree, from a June 23 incident at the Three Rivers Walmart. Judge Paul Stutesman revoked Mott’s $50,000 bond …

Narcotics Investigators from the St. Joseph County Area Narcotics unit executed a search warrant last week on East Main Street in Sturgis. SCAN officers received information about a residence in the 700 block that was reported to have illegal drug activity. After further investigation officers were able to obtain a search warrant. Officers subsequently found methamphetamine and numerous items associated …