Hamlet Police Department Deploys Military Vehicle to Assist Stranded Motorists

Posted on Author WKVI

Officers from the Hamlet Police Department responded to several calls of slide-offs and stranded motorists. Due to the conditions, deputies put the department-issued Humvee to work.

Extreme winds, snow and cold, made roads impassable in Starke County. Motorists were stranded and desperate for help. The hummer was deployed around noon on Saturday and officers were able to rescue 18 people from stranded cars along U.S. 30 and U.S. 35 along with others stuck on many county roads, according to a news release.

Continue reading →

K9 Assisted Drug Investigation Leads to Two Arrests

Posted on Author WKVI
Rob Olejniczak and "Terror"
Rob Olejniczak and “Terror”

A man and a woman face numerous drug charges after officers from the Hamlet Police Department and Starke County Sheriff’s Department reportedly found a one-pot meth lab and more inside their residence Wednesday afternoon. They were investigating a report of drug activity at the Hamlet Apartments at 205 South Main Street, according to officials with the Hamlet P.D. They say the residents agreed to a search of the apartment, and Starke County Sheriff’s Department K9 Terror indicated narcotics were present. The officers reportedly found a one-pot meth lab, methamphetamine, marijuana, heroin, drug precursors and paraphernalia. Continue reading →

Hamlet Police Department Initiates House Watch Program

Posted on Author WKVI

Hamlet Town HallThe Hamlet Police Department is taking proactive steps in order to protect unattended homes and businesses in the winter or while families are on vacation.

The House Watch Program allows homeowners to complete an application for extra patrol around their homes when out of town. While most people have someone available to watch homes, some aren’t able to find a sense of security.

Continue reading →

Coroner Identifies U.S. 30 Crash Victim

Posted on Author WKVI
One driver was killed and a second was injured in a Monday morning crash on U.S. 30 in Hamlet.
One driver was killed and a second was injured in a Monday morning crash on U.S. 30 in Hamlet.

A Hamlet man was killed instantly after the vehicle he was driving collided with a semi truck on U.S. 30 at Frontage Road in Hamlet late Monday morning. Starke County Coroner Kris Rannells says Lawrence Siegel, 72, died of massive blunt force trauma including head, neck, chest and internal injuries. Continue reading →

New App Could Assist Schools in an Emergency

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

The Knox City Police Department is working with Hamlet Police Chief Frank Lonigro in introducing a new app to school corporations for emergency purposes.

Chief Clint Norem told the Knox Board of Public Works members Wednesday morning that Chief Lonigro learned about this app in training and both of them are finding out more information on how to provide the app to the schools that will allow teachers to hit a panic button on their smart phone if there happens to be an emergency.

Continue reading →

Suspected Car Thief Arrested in Starke County

Posted on Author WKVI
A suspected car thief allegedly set this car on fire
A suspected car thief allegedly set this car on fire

A suspect in several burglaries, thefts and auto thefts in Marshall County and in St. Joseph County was taken into custody in Starke County Monday morning.

According to Hamlet police, officers were dispatched to 504 North Starke St. Lot 14 after receiving information about a stolen 1999 Pontiac Grand Prix. Upon arrival, a Hamlet officer noticed another vehicle in the area which wasn’t recognized as belonging to any residents in the neighborhood. After further investigation, it was identified as a stolen vehicle from Marshall County.

Continue reading →

Wreck Sends Driver to IU Health Starke Hospital

Posted on Author WKVI

A two-vehicle wreck just before 11 a.m. on U.S. 35 just south of U.S. 30 sent the driver of one of the cars to the hospital. According to witnesses, the driver of the green Pontiac Sunfire did not stop when she came off the ramp from U.S. 30 onto U.S. 35. Her car hit the left side of a Chrysler Town and Country minivan owned by Braman and Son Memorial Chapel. It was northbound on 35 when the crash occurred. The Starke County Sheriff’s Department, Hamlet Police Department and Indiana State Police all responded. The driver of the Pontiac was taken to IU Health Starke Hospital by ambulance. There’s no word yet on the extent of her injuries or her name.

The Pontiac struck the left side of the minivan, which was northbound on U.S. 35.
The Pontiac struck the left side of the minivan, which was northbound on U.S. 35.
Witnesses say the driver of the Pontiac made no attempt to stop when she came off the eastbound exit ramp from U.S. 30 onto U.S. 35.
Witnesses say the driver of the Pontiac did not stop or yield.

 

Second Arrest Made in Hamlet Trailer Fire Investigation

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

Another arrest has been made in a trailer fire investigation in Hamlet.

North Judson officers brought in Heather Mann on Monday, April 14 to question her about the Tuesday, April 8 trailer fire at 504 North Starke Street, lot 10 in Hamlet. Firefighters reportedly found a meth lab in the smoldering debris.

After the interview conducted by Hamlet police officers she was placed into custody and booked into the Starke County Jail. She was arrested on preliminary charges of manufacturing methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine, possession of two or more precursors with the intent to manufacture methamphetamine, and visiting a common nuisance.

Continue reading →

Tuesday Morning Hamlet Trailer Fire Under Investigation

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

An investigator from the state fire marshal’s office has been called in to determine the origin and cause of a Tuesday morning fire in the Hamlet trailer court. The Hamlet Fire Department was dispatched to 504 North Starke Street, Lot 10, at 12:34 a.m. Fire Chief Bob Goetz tells WKVI news no injuries were reported. The Koontz Lake Fire Department assisted. Dispatchers advise the fire department left at 2:18 a.m. and turned the scene over to the Hamlet Police Department until the fire marshal arrived.

Methamphetamine Reportedly Found in Hamlet Residence, Occupants Arrested

Posted on Author WKVI

Joshua Hansen
Joshua Hansen
Melissa Hansen
Melissa Hansen
Two Hamlet residents were arrested Monday after a search warrant was conducted by Hamlet police officers.

According to Hamlet Town Marshal Frank Lonigro, at 9 p.m. CT on Monday, officers executed the search warrant at 302 Davis St. where they reportedly found methamphetamine-related products. The Indiana State Police Clandestine Lab Team was called to clean up the scene and remove the evidence.

Continue reading →

Two Arrested after Police Find Alleged Marijuana Operation in Koontz Lake

Posted on Author WKVI

 
 
A search warrant in Hamlet resulted in the recovery of stolen property and a large marijuana operation.

Officers from the Hamlet Police Department investigated a theft call that occurred at a residence on Pearl Street on Tuesday, Dec. 10. As a result of the investigation, a search warrant was granted and officers from the Hamlet Police Department and the Starke County Sheriff’s Department executed that search warrant at 7871 N. Clover Lane in Koontz Lake.

Continue reading →

Attempted Thefts From Cars Reported in Hamlet

Posted on Author WKVI

 
 
Officers from the Hamlet Police Department have taken several reports of a man attempting to get into vehicles in the town limits.

The first report came in on Nov. 21 where a man walking a large dog in the area of Hamlet and Pearl Streets attempted to get into parked vehicles. The man was wearing a black hooded sweatshirt. Officers were not able to locate the suspect when they arrived at the scene.

Continue reading →

Arrests Keep Hamlet Police Department Busy

Posted on Author WKVI

 
 
Officers from the Hamlet Police Department are staying busy, with a number of felony arrests made recently. The most recent was Thursday, Nov. 7 when officers responded to a report of a suspicious vehicle parked at the Hamlet Golf Course. Allison Heck was arrested on a charge of operating a operating motor vehicle with a suspended license. She and Skyler Goble both charges of possession of controlled substances, possession of paraphernalia and possession of methamphetamine.

Continue reading →

Hamlet Man Arrested on Child Molesting, Solicitation Charges

Posted on Author WKVI

 
 
A Hamlet man was arrested after the Knox City Police Department took a report on Aug. 11 involving inappropriate contact between the suspect and an underage female.

An investigation was conducted by the Indiana Department of Child Services and on Aug. 15, officers from the Knox and Hamlet Police Departments executed a search warrant at 408 W. Davis St. in Hamlet.

Lonzo Jackson Jr., 21, was taken into custody at that time in a cooperative effort between the Knox and Hamlet Police Department. Jackson is being held on preliminary charges of Child Molesting, a Class C felony and Child Solicitation, a Class D felony.

Three Arrested at Koontz Lake Home

Posted on Author WKVI
 
 

A three-month investigation led to the arrest of three people in Hamlet on Monday.

Officers from the Hamlet Police Department, with the assistance of the Starke County Sheriff’s Department, executed a search warrant at 7733 N. Kickapoo in Walkerton where they found items from multiple burglaries that occurred in Hamlet.

Continue reading →

Hamlet Police Department Seeking Reserve Officers

Posted on Author WKVI

 
 
The Hamlet Police Department is seeking reserve officers to help staff their department. According to release from Town Marshal Frank Lonigro III, applicants must be at least 21 years old prior to appointment, have a high school diploma or GED, a valid Indiana driver’s license and a hangun permit and be a resident of Starke County or one of its neighboring counties in Indiana.

Continue reading →

Hamlet Police Bust Meth Lab, Arrest Resident

Posted on Author WKVI

Meth BustA Hamlet man was arrested without incident at his Pearl Street home Sunday night after police there executed a search warrant and found a meth lab. The Hamlet Police Department obtained a warrant for Corbyn Gayheart’s home after an eight-month-long investigation. He’s facing charges of over-purchase of pseudoephedrine, manufacturing and possession of methamphetamine, possession of meth within 1,000 feet of a park and maintaining a common nuisance. The Indiana State Police Meth Lab Team was called in to assist with the cleanup.

 

Hamlet Police Recover Stolen Vehicle

Posted on Author WKVI

 
 
Hamlet police officers recovered a stolen vehicle on Tuesday.

Officers were conducting a drug activity call at a Hamlet residence and asked questions about a vehicle parked in the driveway. Nobody in the residence claimed ownership to the vehicle. Upon further investigation, the license plate numbers were ran and the plate did not match the vehicle. The VIN number was also covered up and wires were hanging from the broken steering column.

Continue reading →