Police

Two Vicksburg residents are the latest addition to the Michigan State Police detachment in White Pigeon. Scott Tuttle and Pete Melvin, who were two of 78 members of the recently graduated 123rd MSP trooper academy, began work at the White Pigeon site this week. They will spend the next four months with a field-training officer before patrolling on their own. …

Federal officials expect their investigation into a southwestern Michigan train derailment that injured about a dozen people to take six months to a year.  National Transportation Safety Board railroad investigator Michael Flanigon spoke Monday at a news conference in nearby South Bend.  There are measurements to take, interviews to conduct and electronic data that needs to be analyzed before a …

A Sturgis man was charged with domestic assault following an incident at 3 a.m. Friday in the 1300 block of Cato Lane. Upon arriving at the scene, police noticed a woman holding her child outside their residence. The name and age of the suspect was not provided in a media release. He was taken to the St. Joseph County Jail.

Sheriff’s Deputies in Kalamazoo County are trying to get a fourth suspect in a triple shooting last spring to turn himself in.  An arrest warrant on attempted murder and armed robbery charges has been issued for Tyshaun Robinson in the April 11th shooting at the Concord Place Apartments in Oshtemo Township.  Detectives say they have talked to Robinson on the …

Branch County authorities late Thursday afternoon located a 10-year-old Coldwater-area boy who had been reported missing since earlier in the day. Limited details were available about the discovery of Chance Miller, who authorities described as having diminished capacity. Officials did note, however, that he is safe. He was reported missing after leaving his bus stop at 7:30 a.m. near Miller …

A 20-year veteran with the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department was promoted to detective sergeant, a position that will put him at the head of a beefed-up, drug-investigation unit. Burr Oak resident Lonnie Palmer was promoted from the position of detective, according to Undersheriff Mark Lillywhite. Palmer’s focus will shift to the St. Joseph County Area Narcotics unit, which was …

The St. Joseph County Area Narcotics unit arrested three people on methamphetamine-related charges Tuesday night in Three Rivers. Acting on a tip, investigators raided a house in the 400 block of North Main Street and arrested two men and one woman for possession of methamphetamine. Two of the three face additional charges of operating a meth lab and maintaining a …

A man has been charged with killing a southwestern Michigan couple, nearly three years after the victims were found in their home.  Keith Lintz of Niles is charged with first-degree murder and a gun crime. Authorities say Carolyn and John Tarwacki were beaten, stabbed and shot in February 2010. They lived in the Niles area.  A statement Thursday by the …

Two Sturgis men who were apprehended after they robbed a convenience store last weekend have been arraigned in St. Joseph County District Court. Robyn Homan, 33, and Ian Baker, 26, were charged with one count of unarmed robbery. In addition, Homan was charged with two counts of resisting and obstructing an officer. Bond has been set at $20,000 following their …

Members of the St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners followed through on their financial commitment toward an enhanced drug-enforcement unit that will focus on people behind methamphetamine production and sales. During Tuesday’s meeting, commissioners agreed to their part of the three-way funding mechanism that includes partnerships with the cities of Sturgis and Three Rivers. Previously, the commission accepted the funding …