Police

The Michigan Supreme Court last week denied the final appeal of Andy Brown in the David Locey murder case. Brown was found guilty of second-degree murder in the October 2013 shooting death of Locey. Brown in August 2014 was sentenced to as many as 75 years in prison. Locey, a Sturgis CPA who had employed Brown, found evidence of embezzlement …

A 37-year-old teacher at Sturgis High School is on paid administrative leave pending a police investigation into allegations of criminal sexual conduct. The teacher was arrested Monday after a police investigation showed he allegedly had a sexual relationship with a student. A day later, St. Joseph County Prosecutor John McDonough charged the suspect with one count of distributing or promoting …

A 42-year-old Cassopolis man was injured after he was struck by a bullet from a gun fired by a neighbor conducting target practice. Cass County Sheriff Richard Behnke said deputies were alerted shortly after noon Monday that a Milton Township man had been accidentally shot. The victim, Justin Anderson, suffered a non-life-threatening injury. It was determined that a 46-year-old neighbor …

A 32-year-old Sturgis man was arrested last weekend following a high-speed chase that terminated in Burr Oak Township. The incident took place starting around 6 p.m. Friday, when a volunteer firefighter saw a Cadillac Escalade being driven recklessly on Stubey Road. Sheriff’s department officials said the firefighter began following the Escalade while talking with 911 dispatchers. A sheriff ’s deputy …

A 17-year-old Goshen boy, reported as a runaway, was found Monday evening in a wooded area in Cass County’s Newburg Township. Sheriff Richard Behnke said deputies responded shortly after 5 p.m. to the 15000 block of Quaker Street in response to three juvenile runaways. Two of the juveniles returned home but the 17-year-old remained in a wooded area. Deputies requested …

St. Joseph County residents later this year will likely be asked to support a millage request sought by the county’s E-911 Central Dispatch agency. County administrator Pat Yoder said Central Dispatch Director Dennis Brandenburg broached the subject during last week’s executive committee meeting. Yoder said the matter yielded substantial discussion that centered on a variety of needs Brandenburg noted. The …

Cass County prosecutor Victor Fitz formally charged 23-year-old Elkhart resident William Henderson with one count of open murder last week. Henderson is accused in Tuesday’s stabbing death of Juan Mendez, 24, who had lived in the Elkhart area as well as Puerto Rico. Mendez was stabbed early Tuesday during an altercation at Ameri-Kart in Cassopolis. After the stabbing, Henderson attempted …

The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Department, including Sheriff Brad Balk, acknowledged the passing of Mounted Division Lt. Terry Shelhamer. According to a department media release, Shelhamer died in a two-vehicle crash Wednesday after a semi pulled in front of his pickup in Bristol, Ind. Shelhamer’s granddaughter was a passenger and also injured in the accident. She was treated and released. …

An Elkhart man died after he was involved in a workplace altercation Wednesday in Cass County’s Mason Township. Sheriff Richard J. Behnke said deputies were called shortly before 5:30 a.m. to Ameri-Kart, a business in the 19300 block of Grange Street. While Deputies and ambulances were en route, it was discovered that one of the employees had stabbed the other …

Sturgis police arrested an 18-year-old man Wednesday on two felony offenses and a misdemeanor following a pursuit. According to a department media release, officers attempted to stop a vehicle for an equipment violation shortly before 2:30 a.m. on North Lakeview Street at East Lafayette Street. The driver refused to stop and the vehicle was pursued until it came to a …