Police

A Leonidas man was arrested Wednesday following a police pursuit originating in Sturgis. Randall Wood, 39, is being held on a parole absconder warrant along with charges of fleeing and eluding, and hit-and-run. According to Sturgis police, the pursuit began around 10:30 a.m., when a Sturgis officer in an unmarked patrol vehicle saw Wood’s vehicle strike a light pole near …

The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners has approved a new position at the sheriff’s department, where a diversion program is expected to better meet the needs of people requiring mental-health service evaluations. During Tuesday’s meeting, commissioners approved the position of director of assessment. The specialist’s salary will come out of a $350,000 grant administered by the state to the …

Six people were hurt in a huge 40-vehicle pile-up on Interstate 94 in Van Buren County that resulted in the highway being shut down for several hours Monday night. The crash involved about 20 semi trucks and happened during the evening commute as heavy snow fell throughout the area. The Interstate re-opened after the wreckage was finally cleared-up around 3:30 …

St. Joseph County Sheriff deputies were dispatched Saturday to a call regarding an intoxicated man passed out behind Maria’s restaurant in Sturgis. When deputies arrived they were told by employees the man was picked up by family members and transported home. Later that night, however, deputies were contacted regarding a 31-year-old old male admitted to Lagrange County Hospital with severe …

The start date for the Centreville Police Department has been delayed indefinitely until a chief is hired. The agency was supposed to begin today after deciding to not renew its contract with the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department. The sheriff’s office had provided police coverage for the municipality for more than 20 years, but village officials believe having a community …

A Sturgis resident has been awarded the honor of Citizen Corps Coordinator of the Year. Sturgis Police Deputy Chief David Ives said Jim Cook, a retired CAD instructor from Glen Oaks Community College, was selected from nominations across the state. He was presented a plaque during a recent meeting of the 5th District Homeland Security in Kalamazoo. Cook heads the …

Jewelry and a .22-caliber handgun were reported stolen from a residence in Park Township earlier this week. The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department said deputies were called Tuesday to a residence in the 55000 block of Wilbur Road after the owner discovered the break-in around 4 p.m. Access was gained through forced entry.

St. Joseph County Sheriff Brad Balk and Undersheriff Mark Lillywhite have returned a federal prisoner to Kentucky. The two left early Tuesday with Nathan Lumbard, who was sentenced in St. Joseph County last week on charges stemming from the May 2009 arson of Welch’s Steak and Ribs in Sturgis. He has one year of federal prison time to serve before …

Three males and two females were arrested Monday as a result of a special sweep conducted by local law-enforcement agencies. The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department said “Operation Night Hawk,” spearheaded by the Michigan Department of Corrections, found methamphetamine and a parole weapons violation at a residence in the 1200 block of 7th Street in Three Rivers. With assistance from …

The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners has renewed a five-year lease agreement with 911/Central Dispatch. During last week’s commission meeting, commissioners approved the agreement for 911/Central Dispatch to continue using the 4,000-square-foot space at 620 E. Main St. The annual rent is $788. When St. Joseph County’s 911 was formed in the 1990s, it constructed its headquarters. The county …