Police

Felony warrants served

Two Sturgis residents were served felony warrants Tuesday on charges of breaking and entering, and felony burglary. The Sturgis Police Department said Timothy Pelfry, 32, and Kendra Rustad-Hojara, 21, were taken to the St. Joseph County Jail following their alleged involvement in a Dec. 26 incident at an apartment in the 700 block of Gateway Court. A tip to police …

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Suspect kills himself

Authorities say a man suspected of wearing a mask when he set a fire inside a southwestern Michigan Walmart store before stealing thousands of dollars’ worth of electronics has killed himself in northern Indiana. The St. Joseph County, Indiana sheriff’s department says 31-year-old James Turns fatally shot himself Tuesday night. Berrien County, Michigan Undersheriff Chuck Heit says authorities got a …

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Honeysett to be chief of police

Constantine Village Manager Mark Honeysett said he will take over as chief of police later this year. Members of the Constantine Village Council agreed to the arrangement Monday, as current chief Jim Bedell is retiring in May. Honeysett, 58, said he will work under a two-year contract as chief while continuing to serve as village manager. His salary will be …

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Residence burglarized

A residence in the city of Sturgis was burglarized Sunday. According to Sturgis Police, the owner of a house in the 1100 block of Greenlawn Street reported the back door to the residence was forced open. The residence was ransacked, and two cameras, jewelry and a large sum of money were stolen. Police said they were told the incident likely …

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Fire and theft – Walmart

Police in southwest Michigan and northern Indiana are looking for a man who is accused of setting a fire at the Walmart store in Niles and then stealing electronics. The suspect allegedly set the fire in the clothing department just before 5 a.m. on Sunday. After it was burning, he then smashed a display case in the electronics department and …

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Old coins stolen

An undetermined amount of old coins was taken during the burglary of a business over the weekend in downtown Schoolcraft. Police Chief Bryan Campbell said officers responded to an alarm in the 200 block of North Grand Street at 3:47 am Saturday. Officers found that someone had gained entry into Norma’s Antiques. The suspect fled the building moments before police …

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Citizen’s tip leads to arrest

A citizen’s tip led to the arrest of three people on drug-related charges Thursday in Three Rivers. The St. Joseph County Area Narcotics unit executed a search warrant for methamphetamine production in the 400 block of 4th Avenue. SCAN members discovered evidence of methamphetamine production and use. Arrested were a 63-year-old man, a 53-year-old man and a 30-year-old woman. They …

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Two injured in six-vehicle crash

Two people were injured in a six-vehicle crash Monday afternoon in Cass County. Sheriff Joe Underwood Jr. said the accident occurred when 43-year-old Armando Bautista, of Dowagiac, was driving south on M-51 in Silver Creek Township. Bautista slowed for a snow plow and his vehicle was rear-ended by a truck driven by 36-year-old Jennifer Laporte, of Dowagiac. The collision forced …

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Report of graffiti

Michigan State Police troopers responded to a report of graffiti sprayed at a residence in Sturgis Township last month. Troopers were called to the 68000 block of Vinewood Street, where the victim said graffiti was sprayed on a garage door. The incident occurred either Dec. 20 or 21.

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State of emergency has been lifted

Cass County Undersheriff Richard Behnke said the local state of emergency has been lifted. Behnke said the order that was declared at 1 a.m. Monday by county board chairman Robert Wagel. After a full day of snow-clearing by the county road commission Tuesday, Behnke said conditions warranted the lifting of the state of emergency. All non-essential travel within the county …

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