Police

Police are seeking criminal charges against the mother of three children who died after they were killed in a fire at an apartment complex in Kalamazoo last month. Kalamazoo County Chief Assistant Prosecutor Carrie Klein says the request for three counts of second-degree child abuse against 26-year old Jonetta Woods is being reviewed. The charge carries up to 10 years …

A hit-and-run crash shortly before 5 a.m. Monday in Sturgis Township is being investigated by the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department. Department officials said a midsize car of unknown make, model and color was westbound on U.S. 12, west of Shimmel Road, and side-swiped the victim’s vehicle. The suspect vehicle, which continued west on U.S.12, may have damage to the …

A 23-year-old Elkhart man was airlifted to Bronson Methodist Hospital in Kalamazoo after he was injured in a one-vehicle crash Sunday in Constantine Township. Investigators from the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department said Bradley Owen was driving on North River Road when he drove off the roadway near Maple Road and his truck ran into a tree. Owen had to …

A 90-year-old White Pigeon man was issued a citation last week after he drove into a moving, horse-drawn buggy in White Pigeon Township. State police investigators said the man was driving east on Fawn River Road when he ran into the back of the buggy near the intersection of Aldrich Lake Road at 9:45 a.m. Friday. The 35-year-old driver of …

Only minor injuries were reported following a two-vehicle accident last week in Sturgis Township. A media release from the Michigan State Police stated 27-year-old Amanda Horning, of Sturgis, turned left in front of a westbound car on U.S. 12. The incident, which took place at 6:30 p.m. Thursday, occurred in front of the Hillcrest Lounge. The 43-year-old driver of the …

Investigators from the Michigan State Police at White Pigeon detachment are awaiting autopsy results to determine the cause of death of a White Pigeon man on the job last weekend. Robert Knight, 61, was a 25-year veteran at White Pigeon Paper Mill. He died Sunday morning after falling into machinery at the plant. Investigators are trying to determine if Knight …

A 16-year-old girl from Constantine was treated for minor injuries after she was involved in a one-vehicle crash in Constantine Township earlier this week. The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department said the girl drove off the roadway in the area of North River and Winding River roads after she swerved to avoid hitting a dog in the road. The SUV …

State Police say while Michigan traffic crashes and injuries were down in 2012, fatalities increased 5 percent over 2011 from 889 to 936. According to the department’s Criminal Justice Information Center, the number of traffic crashes fell 4 percent to 273,891 from 284,049 in 2011. Injuries were down 2 percent to 70,519 from 71,796 in 2011. Motorcyclist fatalities were up …

Various tools, a 50-inch flat screen television, and a computer and accessories were reported taken earlier this month from a residence in White Pigeon Township. Michigan State Police investigators said the incident likely occurred between 10:30 a.m. and 5 p.m. March 4 at a residence on Dickinson Road. Details about access to the residence were not indicated in a department …

Officials from the Michigan State Police Fire Investigation unit have determined faulty kitchen appliances were the cause of a March 8 fire that destroyed two businesses in downtown Colon. Sgt. Scott LeRoy said the investigation traced appliances in the rear of Curly’s bar as the source of the fire, which destroyed the business and an adjacent real estate office to …