Police

Two victims of a house fire last week in Mendon Township were migrant farm workers. St. Joseph County Undersheriff Mark Lillywhite said the cause of the blaze might never be known due to extensive damage to the house in Mendon Township. The home was owned by an area dairy farm, according to Lillywhite. Lillywhite said other occupants of the farmhouse …

Two men have been arrested in connection with damage earlier this year at a cemetery in Coldwater. The Daily Reporter in Coldwater reports that 19-year-old William Vanness and 20-year-old Christopher Palmerton, Jr. are charged with conspiracy to maliciously damage property and malicious damage to tombstones. The newspaper reports that 125 tombstones and grave markers were damaged in March at Oak Grove …

A body that has washed ashore in southwestern Michigan has been identified as that of a man who went missing from a marina earlier this month. The Benton Township Police Department says the body found along the Lake Michigan shoreline Friday morning was that of Ralph Ford of White Pigeon. He was last seen April 10 on his dock at …

Constantine municipal officials plan to work with the local school district to install a resource officer at Constantine schools on a full-time basis. Village manager Mark Honeysett said he has had conversations with superintendent Steve Wilson and a representative from Michigan Fraternal Order of Police, and plans are to draft a contract to provide an officer for the position. If …

A Newberg Township man was arrested on drug-related offenses following a parole check last week. Along with agents from the Michigan Department of Corrections, the Cass County Drug Enforcement Team conducted the check April 17 in the 58000 block of M-40. Upon searching the residence, detectives discovered heroin and heroin paraphernalia. The parolee, a 37-year-old man, was arrested on charges …

A sheriff’s office says an internal review found no wrongdoing by deputies after three suspects they were chasing died following a gun shop burglary in southwestern Michigan. The Berrien County sheriff’s office said Monday that the two deputies involved are returning to work while state police and prosecutors review the case. A break-in was reported early April 15 at the …

Two people were injured in a two-car accident last week in Sturgis. Fire and police personnel were called shortly after 5 p.m. Thursday to an area of South Centerville Road in front of Applebee’s. Rescue personnel found a car laying on its side and a second vehicle leaning against it. The driver and passenger of the car on its side …

A Cass County woman was found safe after she became lost on trails at T.K. Lawless Park, in Newberg Township. Sheriff Richard Behnke said deputies responded at 12:19 p.m. Thursday. Cass County Dispatch was in phone contact with the lost female for approximately 15 minutes, trying to direct her out of the trails. When that effort failed, they directed her …

Constantine Police Department officials are continuing their investigation into a threat of violence at Constantine Middle School. Chief Mark Honeysett said a 14-year-old girl was taken into custody after it was reported that a threat involving the use of a firearm was written in marker in a bathroom stall. A search warrant was secured and the student’s White Pigeon residence …

A White Pigeon resident was injured in a two-vehicle accident Tuesday afternoon in White Pigeon Township. State police troopers said the incident occurred at 5:20 p.m. at the intersection of U.S. 12 and Crooked Creek Road. Investigators said a car driven by 23-year-old Anthony Rice of White Pigeon was stopped at the intersection and then proceeded northbound onto Crooked Creek …