Police

Serious injuries in Nottawa Township crash

St. Joseph County Sheriff deputies responded to Nottawa Road near Wasepi Road in Nottawa Township on Saturday for the report of a traffic crash with injuries. Initial investigation shows a passenger car being driven by a 16-year-old Mendon resident was northbound on Nottawa Road and crossed the centerline, colliding head-on with a south bound van. Two juvenile passengers from the …

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Chad Spence wins SJC sheriff’s race

St. Joseph County sheriff candidate Chad Spence picked up an early lead in voting totals Tuesday and hung on to top four opponents to claim the highest elected law-enforcement position in the county. Unofficial vote totals show the 50-year-old Spence collected more than 49 percent of all votes, besting runner-up Jason Bingaman. The current undersheriff, Bingaman received nearly 30 percent …

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Fatal crash in Sturgis

An 18-year-old Sturgis man was killed in a Saturday morning crash at the intersection of South Nottawa Street and Bogen Road, according to the Sturgis Department of Public Safety. A passenger car was reportedly eastbound on Bogen Road when it pulled into the path of a southbound pickup. The driver of the passenger car was killed in the crash. The …

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TR man injured in crash

A Three Rivers man was injured in a two-vehicle crash earlier this week in Cass County’s Volinia Township. Sheriff Richard Behnke said deputies were called shortly after 6 p.m. Tuesday to the intersection of Decatur Road and Marcellus Highway in response to a personal-injury crash. Investigators said 43-year-old South Bend resident Jocylyn Vanfleeren was driving north on Decatur Road and …

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SJC law enforcement officers recognized

Undersheriff Jason Bingaman led an awards event last week recognizing law-enforcement across St. Joseph County. During the July 3 event, Bingaman presented “Employee of the Month” awards to deputies Brooke Bingaman, Veronica Hoggard, Devantae Jennings, Kevin Penn, Jesse Raymond, Spencer Schrader and Ethan Warren. Meanwhile, Bingaman gave lifesaving awards to Deputy Zach Radtke and White Pigeon Police Officer Matt Hanson.

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Two TR residents injured in crash

A Three Rivers man and his passenger suffered injuries in a single-vehicle crash earlier this week just north of Jones in Cass County’s Newberg Township. Sheriff Richard Behnke said deputies were called shortly before 1 p.m. Wednesday to an area south of Bald Hill Street on M-40. Investigators said Adrian Black, 31, was driving north on M-40 when he lost …

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Two TR residents injured in crash

A Three Rivers man and his passenger suffered injuries in a single-vehicle crash earlier this week just north of Jones in Cass County’s Newberg Township. Sheriff Richard Behnke said05 deputies were called shortly before 1 p.m. Wednesday to an area south of Bald Hill Street on M-40. Investigators said Adrian Black, 31, was driving north on M-40 when he lost …

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One injured in Cass County crash

Cass County Sheriff Richard Behnke said deputies were called at 11 p.m. Saturday to Brownsville Street, near M-62, in response to a personal-injury crash. Investigators said 42-year-old Marcellus resident Gila Wigton was traveling east on Brownsville Street when his vehicle crossed the center line and struck a vehicle stopped in the opposite lane. The second vehicle was driven by 23-year-old …

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Warrants sought in meth trafficking incident

A 49-year-old man faces drug-related charges following an investigation involving authorities from Michigan and Indiana. Southwest Enforcement Team detectives, along with the Elkhart County Intelligence and Covert Enforcement Team detectives, worked May 21 to focus on a methamphetamine trafficker operating in southern Cass County and northern Elkhart County. Indiana officials conducted a traffic stop of the suspect. Authorities located half …

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Woman injured in Marcellus Highway crash

A 28-year-old woman from Buchanan was injured in a one-vehicle crash last week in Cass County’s Wayne Township. Sheriff Richard Behnke said deputies were alerted shortly after 1:30 a.m. Wednesday to a personal-injury crash on Marcellus Highway. Investigators said Ashley Smith was driving east on Marcellus Highway when she attempted to steer around a fallen tree in the roadway. Smith …

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