Police

Andy Brown found guilty

Andy Brown has been found guilty of second-degree murder and felony firearm. After deliberating for three days, the 12-member jury returned its verdict this morning at 11:20. Brown, a 37-year-old Portage resident, has been in jail since the murder of Sturgis-area CPA David Locey. Locey was found shot three times in his Sherman Township office the morning of Oct. 2. …

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Marijuana plants seized

Citizen tips regarding marijuana-related activity resulted in the confiscation of nearly 22 marijuana plants Wednesday in Lockport Township. A sheriff’s department media release stated members of the St. Joseph County Area Narcotics unit executed a search warrant in the 20000 block of M-86 regarding the manufacture of marijuana. A search of the residence resulted in the seizure of 22 marijuana …

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Woman suffers injuries after crash

A 20-year-old Three Rivers woman suffered minor injuries following a one-vehicle crash Tuesday in Nottawa Township. Deputies from the St. Joseph County Sheriff Department were dispatched at 11:35 p.m. to Findley Road, west of Ironwood Drive, where a vehicle driven by Chelsea Gabbard had rolled over and came to rest against a tree. Gabbard told police she fell asleep at …

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Arrests made for meth

A search warrant was executed this week at a residence in the village of Centreville for methamphetamine. According to a sheriff’s department media release, members of the St. Joseph County Area Narcotics unit were given a tip about a marijuana grow in the 300 block of West Main Street. Officers made contact Tuesday with residents at the address and executed …

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Minor injuries after collision

A motorist suffered minor injuries after being involved in a collision with a freight train Monday. According to law-enforcement and rescue personnel, the driver of an SUV was on Cotherman Lake Road in Park Township when he failed to stop for a passing Grand Elk Railroad train. The SUV struck the side of a rail car and rolled onto its …

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Golf cart stolen

State police were called to a residence in White Pigeon Township last week in response to the theft of a golf cart. According to an agency media release, the EZ-GO cart was stolen between Tuesday night and Wednesday morning last week from the 71000 block of Lakeview Avenue. The cart has a canopy, front windshield, and headlights and taillights.

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Two injured in crash

Two people were injured in a traffic accident in Cass County’s Mason Township Monday evening. Henry Eicher, age 32, of Centreville, was eastbound on Old M-205 when he failed to stop for a vehicle which had slowed for a turn. That car was driven by 27-year-old Melissa Tompkins of South Bend. Tompkins and a passenger, Stephanie Keesling, 28, of Edwardsburg, …

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Angola man dies in skydiving accident

Authorities in southern Michigan have identified a man who died in a skydiving accident as a 76-year-old from Indiana. Marshall police say in a news release that the accident happened about 11 a.m. Sunday near Brooks Field in Marshall. The site is about 15 miles east-southeast of Battle Creek. Deputy Chief Scott McDonald says George Speakman of Angola was found …

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Items stolen from business

Tobacco products and alcohol were taken from a Colon business last week after a cinder block was used to smash the window of its front door. The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department said deputies were called early Tuesday to Village Market, where the break-in occurred earlier in the morning. Video surveillance from the store is being reviewed by investigators.

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Fourth day of testimony

The fourth day of testimony in the Andy Brown murder trial wrapped up Thursday, when the focus was on Brown’s approximate location the morning David Locey was murdered last October. Jurors in Judge Paul Stutesman’s circuit court heard testimony from state police Det. Paul Gonyeau regarding information gathered from Locey’s cell phone. Various cell towers were identified that could indicate …

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