Police

All of Ken Bennett’s Tuesday morning barbershop customers wear orange jumpsuits. The owner of the Hair Shed in downtown Battle Creek has spent every Tuesday for the past 20 years cutting the hair of inmates at the Calhoun County jail. In a one-chair shop deep inside the facility, Bennett trims hair, beards and mustaches and doesn’t talk about crime. “I …

One of two Kalamazoo men charged with home invasion at a Schoolcraft Township residence last weekend was arraigned Tuesday. Meanwhile, the other suspect remains hospitalized after he was shot by an occupant of the residence. Kyle Wilson, 27, was arraigned in Kalamazoo County District Court, while 26-year-old Allen Palmer will be arraigned later as he recovers from being shot in …

Approval of a sheriff’s department personnel change was the most noteworthy matter of business during Tuesday’s St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners meeting. In advance of Capt. Tim Schuler’s impending retirement, commissioners OK’d the department’s request to fill his position. Subsequently, the commission agreed to hire Kitty Buchner to succeed Schuler. Buchner, who has served as administrative secretary and is …

A Dowagiac man died Sunday after being pinned by a skid-steer loader he was using to plow snow. Police say they were called Sunday afternoon to Cass County’s Wayne Township after 53-year-old Paul Williamson become pinned by the loader while clearing snow. Officers say Williamson was reaching out of his skid steer when his foot hit the hydraulic pedal to lift the …

State Rep. Aaron Miller, chair of the House Appropriations State Police subcommittee, issued a statement after Gov. Rick Snyder last week presented his budget plan to the Legislature, which includes funding for the Michigan State Police. Miller said public safety must continue to be a priority and he will work closely with the governor’s office to see that the Michigan …

A man accused of setting a woman on fire in Kalamazoo is facing an assault with intent to murder charge. Police responded to a 911 call shortly after 2 o’clock Friday morning and learned the victim and the suspect live together and had been arguing. Investigators say the man doused the 44-year-old victim with rubbing alcohol and then set her on fire. She …

In a plea deal accepted Wednesday in St. Joseph County Circuit Court, prosecutors dropped four perjury charges against Constantine resident Raymond McCann II. In exchange, the 47-year-old McCann pleaded no contest to a single perjury count. Under a sentencing recommendation included in the agreement, he would be eligible for release after serving 12 to 20 months. McCann has been in …

Sheriff’s officials responded to a three vehicle collision Thursday in Mottville Township. According to a department media release, a 22-year-old Vandalia man was driving west on U.S. 12 when he entered a white-out section. The man unknowingly crossed the centerline and stopped his vehicle in the shoulder of the eastbound lane. An eastbound semi, driven by a 45-year-old man from …

A southwest Michigan man was killed when he was struck by a car late Thursday night. The Cass County Sheriff’s Department says 22-year old Joshua Yahne of Dowagiac was walking along M-51 in Pokagon Township when he was struck by a vehicle driven by 21-year old Jamika Morgan of Elkhart, Indiana. After striking Yahne, the vehicle ran off the road, hit …

Three people were arrested Tuesday following a traffic stop in Three Rivers. The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department said upon further investigation, deputies found numerous components to manufacture methamphetamine. In addition, deputies found property that appeared to have been stolen from area stores. The three were charged with possession of marijuana, methamphetamine and stolen property, and maintaining and operating a …