Police

About 20 Sturgis-area children had their Christmas season brightened Saturday by officers from Sturgis Police Department and Sturgis firefighters. The “Shop With a Hero” event was made possible in part through a donation by Walmart, according to event organizers. Officers pushed shopping carts while children selected gifts for their family members and themselves.

A 23-year-old White Pigeon man was arrested after authorities said he fled from police late Thursday. Justin Criddle was held on two warrants, failure to appear and violation of conditional release. Just before 11 p.m. Thursday, White Pigeon officers attempted to stop a vehicle Criddle was driving for a traffic violation. He stopped the car, then exited and ran from …

State police are investigating the break-in of summer cottages at a lake in Branch County’s Ovid Township. According to a department media release, troopers were called around 11:30 p.m. Wednesday to Longview Drive on East Long Lake. Several residences were entered and items taken included tools, electronics and alcohol. Neighbors told authorities they saw a white van in the area …

State police are investigating the theft of a vehicle that took place earlier this week in Branch County. Troopers were called at 5 a.m. Monday to White Supply Company in Coldwater after a commercial truck was reported stolen. The 2006 International truck featured “White Supply” and the company’s logo printed on the doors. Authorities suspect two males were involved in …

Prosecutors have filed murder and armed robbery charges against a Western Michigan University basketball player in the killing of a fellow student last week. Joeviair Kennedy was due to be arraigned Monday in a Kalamazoo County court in Thursday’s fatal shooting of 19-year-old Jacob Jones in an off-campus apartment. Prosecutors don’t know if the 20-year-old Muskegon man has an attorney …

Colon High School students were witness to a “Courts In the Schools” program last week. Staged by St. Joseph County District Court Judge Rob Pattison, Friday’s session followed previous in-school court sessions in Three Rivers and Sturgis. The two cases heard Friday centered on sentencings of suspects related to drugs and alcohol. Pattison said he is an advocate of the …

Six people were arrested in Sturgis last week after resisting arrest. The incident began when an officer attempted to stop a vehicle shortly before 2 a.m. Friday in the 400 block of West West Street for a traffic violation. Officers said the vehicle pulled into a private drive, and a male and female in the vehicle fled into a residence. …

Two people were hospitalized following a two-car accident this week in Cass County’s Volina Township. Sheriff Joe Underwood Jr. said deputies were dispatched shortly after 1:30 p.m. Wednesday to Decatur Road and Marcellus Highway. A vehicle driven by Janekk Spears, 18, of Lawton, was southbound on Decatur Road when Spears failed to yield at a stop sign. Her vehicle collided …

Police say a 20-year-old Western Michigan University student has been fatally shot at an apartment near campus and they’re seeking two men seen fleeing the area. Kalamazoo public safety officers and campus police responded about 10:30 p.m. Thursday to a call about the shooting and found the man dead of an apparent gunshot wound. Witnesses told police two men fled …

Detroit Police Chief James Craig has defended the decision to arrest and charge then drop charges against a man in the fatal shooting of a college police officer. Craig told reporters Thursday that police and prosecutors had “probable cause” to arrest and charge DeAngelo Davis with murder in the November slaying of Wayne State University officer Collin Rose. Craig says …