Police

A plea agreement between a former Sturgis teacher and the St. Joseph County prosecutor’s office was withdrawn Tuesday in St. Joseph County District Court. Keith Andrew Lang was set to enter a no contest/guilty plea to one count of attempted fourth-degree criminal sexual conduct. However, District Court Judge Jeff Middleton said he couldn’t agree to portions of the deal. As …

A Leonidas Township resident reported the theft of a trailer. State police were called Wednesday morning to the 5200 block of Fulton Road, where the victim said the 5-by-8-foot trailer featured a black steel frame, aluminum fender, and plywood covering the sides and bottom.

State police responded this week to a breaking-and-entering of an abandoned residence in Constantine Township. According to a department media release, troopers responded to the 12000 block of North River Road and found forced entry was gained into the house and adjacent barns and sheds. Investigators found numerous antiques, tools and a four-wheel ATV had been stolen.

The Portage man charged with shooting to death two people last week – including a St. Joseph County resident – was arraigned Monday. St. Joseph County court officials said 32-year-old Zachary Patten was arraigned in St. Joseph County District Court. Judge Rob Pattison charged Patten with homicide, open murder, firearms and home invasion. The felony charges stem from Thursday’s shooting …

Investigators have concluded that lightning was the source of a barn fire earlier this month in Sherman Township. The barn and its contents were destroyed July 10 as the result of a lightning strike. Tri-Township firefighters were dispatched just after 9 a. m. to the 65000 block of Taylor Road. Upon arrival, fire crews found the structure fully engulfed. Officials …

A man accused of killing two people last week has been returned to St. Joseph County from Indiana, where he was arrested Friday. Zachary Patten, 32, was brought to the county jail in Centreville Saturday morning. He waived extradition from Indiana after turning himself in to a pair of South Bend officers. Patten is accused of killing a 31-year-old Kalamazoo …

A 19-year-old Edwardsburg man was injured in a single-vehicle accident over the weekend in Cass County’s Milton Township. Sheriff Richard Behnke said deputies were called shortly before 4 p.m. Saturday to Runkle Street, near Beebe Road. Trevor Rutledge was behind the wheel of the car when he lost control at a curve in the road. The vehicle left the roadway …

A suspect wanted for a pair of murders committed Thursday night is now in the custody of Indiana authorities. Zachary Patten turned himself in Friday morning to South Bend Police. Patten, a 32-year-old Portage resident, allegedly shot and killed a 31-year-old woman in a mobile home park in Kalamazoo around 9:30 p.m. Authorities said it appears the woman was not …

Three people were arrested on drug-related offenses last week in the city of Dowagiac. The Cass County Drug Enforcement Team was alerted to an impending drug sale July 13 in the 600 block of North Front Street. Two male occupants in the vehicle were detained and a third female was arrested shortly after exiting a nearby store. The 32-year-old woman, …

A 16-year-old Three Rivers youth drowned in the St. Joseph River Wednesday afternoon. The victim was identified as Marco Chapman. Authorities were called to the area of Thomas and King Streets around 1:30pm. Chapman reportedly attempted to swim across the St. Joseph River with friends, and the current swept him under, according to witnesses. Chapman’s body was recovered following a …