Police

Lillywhite wins sheriff primary

St. Joseph County’s incumbent sheriff Mark Lillywhite looks as if he’ll be returning to the post for four more years. The Republican candidate, who took office Feb. 1 to finish the 11 months left on Brad Balk’s term, was challenged by Florence Township resident Gordon Evilsizor. Lillywhite, a Three Rivers resident, had more than 80 percent of the vote Tuesday. …

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Two brothers electrocuted when sailboat hit power line

Police in southwestern Michigan said two brothers who were electrocuted when the mast of the sailboat they were moving hit a power line, were in stable condition Sunday at an Indiana hospital.  Emergency personnel were called to the scene after Austin Francis, age 31, of Kalamazoo and Cassopolis, and his brother Lane Francis, age 19, of Cassopolis, were accidentally electrocuted. …

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Man gets 18-year prison term for bank robbery, second crime

A man who robbed a bank in southwestern Michigan and tried to rob another was sentenced to 18 years in federal prison. David Floyd’s sentence last week was enhanced by his previous criminal record. Floyd, who has ties to Michigan City, Indiana, admitted to robbing $11,344 from the former New Buffalo Savings Bank in Three Oaks last September and attempting …

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Swimmer fatally struck by boat on Gull Lake

A man was fatally struck by a boat while swimming in a western Michigan lake over the weekend, police said. The man was hit Sunday afternoon on Gull Lake near Kalamazoo. The man was brought to shore for lifesaving measures but was pronounced dead from his injuries at the scene, according to the Kalamazoo County Sheriff’s Office. The boat operator …

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Indiana toll road worker struck by SUV, killed

A toll road maintenance worker has died after being struck by an SUV in northern Indiana. Ronald Smith, age 61, was in front of his truck about 1:50 p.m. Thursday sweeping debris from the right shoulder of the toll road in St. Joseph County when the SUV sideswiped the truck and hit him, according to state police. The SUV then …

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Hit-and-run victim identified

The Three Rivers Police Department has released the name of the pedestrian who was struck and killed in a hit-and-run incident last week in the Three Rivers Meijer parking lot. Investigators said Laura Jacobs, 62, a Meijer employee, died after she was struck by a vehicle around 1 p.m. Thursday in the northeast quadrant of the parking lot. Witnesses told …

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Battle Creek man charged in death of woman found burned

A Battle Creek man has been charged in the March death of a woman who police believe was fatally shot in her home before her body was burned along a remote road. Jose Juarez, 26, was arrested Thursday and charged with open murder, mutilation of a dead body and three other counts in the death of Alison Sargent, a 25-year-old …

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Hit and run incident – Woman dies in Meijer parking lot

A 62-year-old woman died in a hit-and-run incident Thursday in the parking lot at the Three Rivers Meijer. Three Rivers Police were called shortly after 1 p.m. in response to a pedestrian struck by a car. Witnesses told investigators the driver ran the victim over and continued from the scene. Officers are looking for a black 2015 body style Chevrolet …

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Fatal motorcycle crash in Three Rivers

A 45-year-old Three Rivers man died in a motorcycle accident over the weekend. According to a media release from the Three Rivers Police Department, officers were called shortly after 9 p.m. Sunday to Hoffman Street, in the area of Wood Street, in response to a single-vehicle accident. Upon further investigation, officers learned the driver was traveling east on Hoffman Street …

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Man dies in Cass County crash

A 21-year-old Dowagiac man died in a single-vehicle accident last weekend in Cass County’s Volinia Township. Sheriff Richard Behnke said deputies were called at 6:18 a.m. Saturday to Church Street, east of Lawrence Road. Authorities said Michael Mortimore was a passenger in a pickup driven by Austin Price, 21, also of Dowagiac. The vehicle was heading east on Church Street …

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