Police

A pair of Florence Township residents was charged with methamphetamine-related offenses following a search of their residence Friday last week. Mike Klechak, 38, and Susan Lough, 37, were charged with operating and maintaining a meth lab, police said. A tip led investigators to the residence, in the 21000 block of Mintdale Road. Armed with a search warrant, police entered the …

The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department was called to Mottville Township over the weekend in response to a business alarm. At 4 a.m. Sunday, an alarm at the Marathon gas station on U.S. 12 was activated. Upon arrival, investigators found a front window had been smashed out. It appears there was no entry made into the business, officials said. The …

St. Joseph County’s Board of Commissioners has tabled a matter regarding a public hearing on a millage renewal in support of the E-911 Central Dispatch operation. Commissioners during Tuesday’s meeting agreed that further research into the agency’s long-term needs and projected expenses should be evaluated before authorizing a public hearing on the potential millage request. E911 director Jon Uribe was …

Members of the Police Officers Labor Council in Three Rivers agreed to a new contract with the city, following action Tuesday. City manager Joe Bippus said the union agreed to concessions that include a reduced rate of pay for holidays and unused vacation time. Bippus said the three-year agreement includes raises of 2 percent the first year and 1.5 percent …

The St. Joseph County Board of Commissioners on Tuesday approved an out-of-state travel request for two employees. According to a memo from Undersheriff Mark Lillywhite, deputies Tim Barnes and Brandon Dahl will attend a Drug Enforcement Agency “Clan Lab” state and local certification school April 16-20 at the FBI training center in Virginia. The invitation-only class was offered to the …

Sturgis police joined members of the Southwest Enforcement Team in uncovering hazardous waste from several methamphetamine laboratories Tuesday night at a residence in Sturgis. Sturgis police said a search warrant was executed for a 207 S. Maple St., a residence raided for drug-related activity in 2008, police said. The residence was vacant when it was entered Tuesday. A specially trained …

A hit-and-run incident in Three Rivers remains under investigation by the Three Rivers Police Department. According to a department news release, a newer model Jeep Wrangler went off the roadway Saturday at Portage Avenue and Prutzman Street, and subsequently struck a light pole and a sign. Public utilities attached to the pole were significantly damaged, according to the release. Police …

Investigators from the Michigan State Police post in White Pigeon are looking into the weekend theft of firearms, knives and ammunition from a White Pigeon bait shop. Owners of Fisher’s Bait and Tackle said someone broke into the U.S. 12 business sometime early Saturday. It appears entrance was gained through a rear window. Seven firearms were among the items stolen, …

A 54-year-old Three Rivers man was not injured after the vehicle he was driving was forced off the road by an oncoming truck Monday morning. The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department said the victim was driving east on Fawn River Road in Sturgis Township when a large pickup truck with square headlights crossed the centerline and into the eastbound lane. …

Investigators with the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department are asking for the public’s help in locating two potential suspects related to an armed robbery and home invasion incident last week. According to a sheriff’s department press release, Justin Shawn Criddle and Timothy Bryce Williams are persons of interest. The two may have been involved in an incident Tuesday morning at …