Police

Seventeen St. Joseph County employees were recognized Tuesday for reaching milestone years of service. The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners acknowledged employees who had reached the 10-, 15-, 20- and 25-year plateau. The 25-year category featured three recipients: Det.-Sgt. Jim Hart, patrol officer Pete VanCamp and IT director Dan Wing. The group of 20-year employees consisted of Mike Minger, …

Immaculate Conception School and nearby Three Rivers Health were briefly in lock-down mode Tuesday morning in response to a citizen’s claim of gunshots heard in the vicinity. Law-enforcement officials responded around 7:50 a.m. to an area in the 1100 block of Hill Street after a citizen reported hearing gunfire. A search of the perimeter was conducted but officials later concluded …

A 35-year-old Three Rivers man suffered minor injuries after he was involved in a single-vehicle accident over the weekend in Cass County’s Lagrange Township. Sheriff Joe Underwood said his office responded at 3:10 a.m. Sunday to a personal-injury crash at the intersection of Pokagon Highway and Wilberhill Road. Demetrius Pritchard was traveling south on Wilberhill in a Pontiac minivan when …

A gasoline-powered pole saw, chainsaw, air-powered nail guns and other tools were stolen recently from a residence in Mottville Township. State police investigators were called to the 12000 block of U.S. 12 to look into the matter. The time and date of the incident, and details regarding how access was gained into the residence was not stated in a department …

St. Joseph County Commissioner Don Eaton was fined $200 on a charge of disturbing the peace, related to a July incident at the Sturgis Applebee’s. The charge was reduced from what could have been possession of a firearm while intoxicated, as Eaton was found to have had a blood-alcohol level in excess of 0.08 percent while he was in possession …

Details related to a potential misdemeanor charge against St. Joseph County Commissioner Don Eaton are expected to be yielded today by Cass County Prosecutor Victor Fitz. Fitz was designated to handle the case against Eaton, who faces a charge of possession of a firearm while intoxicated, stemming from a late-July incident at Appplebee’s in Sturgis. Fitz declined to elaborate on …

Two people were arrested on methamphetamine-related charges during a late-night execution of a search warrant Monday in Florence Township. The St. Joseph County Area Narcotics unit was called to the 62000 block of Constantine Road in response to suspected drug activity. SCAN officers found evidence related to the manufacturing and use of meth. A 22-year-old man was charged with operating …

Cass County Sheriff Joe Underwood Jr. said his office investigated a single-vehicle crash that took place last week in Porter Township. Underwood said the incident occurred mid-afternoon Friday on M-217 at State Line Road. The driver, 50-year-old Brad Martin, of Vandalia, was northbound on M-217 when he lost control of his vehicle, which left the roadway and struck the Welcome …

A candlelight vigil in memory of Sturgis accountant David Locey drew more than 300 people to Free Church Park in downtown Sturgis Saturday night. Organized by family friends Jade Klingler and Leeann Lindsey, the vigil featured reflections from Sturgis City Commissioner Rob Sisson, retired bank executive Frank Iannarelli and retired Sturgis economic development director John Hayes. The trio made frequent …

The Cass County Drug Enforcement Team last week uncovered a comprehensive marijuana-growing operation in Penn Township. Investigators on Wednesday searched a barn in the 16000 block of Dutch Settlement Road and surrounding property and uncovered the operation. Detectives located numerous marijuana plants, more than five pounds of processed marijuana and a loaded firearm. Officials said the estimated street value of …