Police

Constantine Township – Armed intruder shot

An armed intruder was shot by a would-be victim during an incident Friday evening in Constantine Township. State Police troopers responded around 10 p.m. Friday to the 60000 block of Maple Road, west of Constantine, in response to an attempted breaking-and-entering. Investigators said the homeowner told them he had shot a male intruder who was armed with a knife and …

Read More »

Michigan boy uses a slingshot to save his sister from being abducted from backyard

A Michigan girl was able to escape an attempted kidnapping when her brother used a slingshot to strike the would-be attacker, authorities said this week. Mlive.com reports that the Michigan State Police arrested the accused assailant in the city of Alpena on Wednesday. The 17-year-old’s name has not been released though he has been charged as an adult with one count …

Read More »

Serious injuries in Constantine area crash

An Indiana woman and her son were injured in a two-vehicle crash in Constantine Township. Michigan State Police troopers said the incident occurred Thursday at the intersection of U.S. 131 and North River Road. According to investigators, a 27-year-old woman from Kosciusko County stopped her car on North River Road before attempting to proceed through the intersection. Her vehicle was …

Read More »

Follow-up – Suicide death of murder suspect

Now that the recently charged suspect in the 1988 death of Cathy Swartz has died in jail by suicide, investigators fear questions in the case will never get answered. WOOD-TV has reported that Robert Waters, 53, died on Saturday at the Beaufort, South Carolina, County Detention Center just days before Michigan police were planning to pick him up. WOOD said …

Read More »

Theft of dirt bike

Michigan State Police troopers are investigating the theft of a dirt bike from a location in Fawn River Township. The motorcycle was taken between 3 a.m. May 3 and 12:30 p.m. May 4 from the 28000 Block of Fawn River Road. Authorities said the dirt bike is a 2021 Honda CRF-450X.

Read More »

St. Joseph County – “Click It or Ticket” enforcement campaign

St. Joseph County Undersheriff Jason Bingaman said the department is taking part in a three-week enhanced enforcement centering on seatbelt usage. The annual “Click It or Ticket” enhanced enforcement will run May 15 through June 4 as part of a national seatbelt enforcement program. Bingaman said the campaign coincides with summer-travel season. Two-hundred and twenty-eight people not wearing a seatbelt …

Read More »

Cold case murder suspect found dead in jail

A man who was arrested last month in the 1988 stabbing and strangulation of a Three Rivers woman has died in a South Carolina jail, where he was awaiting extradition to face a murder charge. Three Rivers Police said they were told Saturday about the death of Robert Waters, age 53, at the detention center in Beaufort County, South Carolina. …

Read More »

South Carolina man arrested in Three Rivers woman’s 1988 killing

A South Carolina man has been charged in a Three Rivers woman’s 1988 slaying after investigators used forensic genetic genealogy to narrow the pool of suspects to a single family, authorities said Monday. Robert Odell Waters, age 53, was arrested Sunday afternoon in Beaufort, South Carolina, where he lives, in the killing of Cathy Sue Swartz, St. Joseph County Prosecuting …

Read More »

Sheriff Lillywhite – One year probabtion

St. Joseph County Sheriff Mark Lillywhite was ordered to serve one year of probation after pleading guilty to a pair of misdemeanor charges related to a drunken-driving crash from earlier this year. The 47-year-old Lillywhite appeared Monday during arraignment at the Kalamazoo County Courthouse. Lillywhite apologized to emergency personnel who responded to the Feb. 26 crash that led to his arrest …

Read More »

Local man arrested following alleged threat

A 54-year-old Three Rivers resident was arrested this week for allegedly making a threat against Three Rivers Middle School. Authorities said James Roberts was charged with making a false report or threat of terrorism after allegedly calling in a threat against the school Friday. Roberts was arraigned Tuesday; bond was set at $250,000. If convicted, Roberts could face up to …

Read More »