North Judson Man Arrested For Purse-Snatching

A North Judson man was arrested Sunday after allegedly stealing a woman’s purse.

North Judson police received a call late Sunday night from a woman who reported her purse stolen. Clayton E. Hale had left a local establishment with a friend and then he went home. When the woman went home, she noticed her purse was missing.

Officers later found Hale who was in possession of the purse as well as controlled substances and marijuana.

Hale, 26, was arrested on preliminary charges of Theft, and felony counts of Possession of Marijuana and Possession of a Controlled Substance.

Traffic Stop in North Judson Nets Two Arrests

Two people were arrested following a traffic stop in North Judson Monday night.

Officers observed a car near Schricker and Talmer Street that was known to be driven by Randall Stone who has a suspended driver’s license. Police conducted a traffic stop and confirmed that Stone was driving the vehicle with a suspended license. During the traffic stop, a search of the vehicle was conducted and drugs were allegedly found inside the vehicle.

Randall Stone, 43, of Wheatfield, was arrested on preliminary charges of Possession of Methamphetamine Within 1,000 feet of a Public Park and Driving While Suspended With a Prior Conviction. His passenger, Patricia Ann Vega, 48, of North Judson, was arrested on preliminary charges of Possession of a Controlled Substance and Possession of a Controlled Substance within 1,000 feet of a Public Park. Stone’s vehicle was impounded for having false and fictitious plates.

San Pierre Woman Arrested after an Alleged Battery Incident

An alleged battery incident occurred yesterday in the North Judson area.

Angela Schwei and another woman were reportedly engaged in a verbal argument in the Burger King restaurant on Talmer Avenue and were told to leave. They went out in the parking lot and the argument escalated. Schwei allegedly got out a sharp object and slashed the victim on the leg, causing a gash.

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Starke County Traffic Safety Partnership to Participate in Click it or Ticket Campaign

Officers from the Starke County Sheriff’s Department and Knox and North Judson Police Departments will be participating in the “Click it or Ticket” campaign beginning May 18th through June 3rd.

This blitz, coordinated by the Indiana Governor’s Council on Impaired or Dangerous Driving, allows officers to patrol during this seat belt enforcement period. All drivers and passengers are encouraged to wear their seat belts at all times in a motor vehicle. If you don’t wear your seat belt, you will receive a traffic citation. No warnings will be given.

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North Judson Police Investigate Scam

The North Judson Police Department recently investigated another scam going around the area.

Police say a resident on Lincoln Avenue received what appeared to be a legitimate check in the mail for around $3,800 from a nationally-known insurance company. The person was asked to deposit the check and wire $1,900 back to the company to receive the remainder of the money. This is a scam. If you deposit the check and wire the money, the check will bounce and your money will already be claimed by the scammer.

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North Judson Residents Can Notify Police When Leaving on Vacation

North Judson Police Department

North Judson Town Marshal Doug Vessely told the Town Board this week that he is asking residents to call the Police Department and notify them if they will be going out of town so officers can perform routine patrols around that property.

You may call 772-5914 and tell Vessely about your vacation and he and the other officers will check your residence to make sure no crimes have been committed. If there happens to be a break-in or other type of criminal activity at your house, he will notify you and an investigation will take place.

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North Judson Man Arrested on Battery Charges

Bradley White

A North Judson man was arrested Monday on battery and theft charges.

Bradley White, 23, allegedly battered a person visiting his home and his live-in girlfriend. During the course of the investigation, police learned that he might be harboring stolen property. A warrant was obtained by North Judson Police and White’s Franklin Street apartment was searched and stolen property was reportedly recovered.

White has preliminary charges of Battery, two counts, and Possession of Stolen Property.

The property in question was reportedly taken from his neighbor’s home. The original burglary call was made in December. Police continue to investigate the case and more arrests are anticipated.

No Life Threatening Injuries in Fiery Crash in San Pierre

Starke County emergency personnel were called to an accident yesterday afternoon where two vehicles burst into flames.

When officers arrived at the scene at U.S. 421 in San Pierre, they found a semi and a car fully engulfed in flames. Both drivers had been pulled from the wreckage. Officers determined that the driver of the passenger vehicle crossed the center line causing the accident. The semi was hauling mattresses which took firefighters nearly three hours to extinguish.

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North Judson House Fire Injures Child

The North Judson-Wayne Township Fire Department was called to a house fire Tuesday morning at about 10:13 a.m.

Firefighters, Starke County EMS and the North Judson Police Department responded to 3942 W. 3rd Street. The fire was contained to the upper level of the home and the home sustained major smoke damage. A two-year-old child was taken from the residence to IU Health Starke Hospital and hospitalized.

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Yearly Statistics for Local Police Departments

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The North Judson Police Department had a total of 3,820 calls in 2011. The department had 832 traffic stops, 162 theft-conversion calls, 64 accident calls, 201 juvenile-family disturbance calls, 75 mischief-vandalism calls, and 55 assaults, battery and fighting calls. The officers also completed 12 Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated reports, 27 battery reports, 23 alcohol-drug reports and 116 adult arrests. 538 traffic warnings were also given in 2011.

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North Judson Police Investigate Theft Calls

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The North Judson Police Department received theft calls on Friday. The callers reported a laptop and a wallet stolen from their vehicles.

North Judson Town Marshal, Doug Vessley, would like to remind you to make sure you keep doors locked on homes and vehicles. Vessely added that keeping the doors locked helps to deter crime and keeps your valuables safe. Criminals are always checking for unlocked cars to try and find cash and other valuables.

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North Judson Man Arrested after Fight

Brian Lovins

Brian Lovins, of North Judson, was arrested on Friday after he arrived at a residence to fight with another subject.

Lovins reportedly heard that someone was threatening a family member of his. He went to a residence in the 300 block of Franklin Street in North Judson to confront the subject. North Judson police were called to the home and Lovins was arrested on preliminary charges of Public Intoxication and Intimidation with a Deadly Weapon.

North Judson Man Arrested on Warrant, Resisting Arrest

Dusten Clary

A North Judson man was arrested on Wednesday after he reportedly resisted arrest after police tried to take him into custody on an active arrest warrant.

Dusten Clary, 28, was seen at the a local restaurant and he had an active arrest warrant from the Knox City Court. North Judson Police Department officers entered the business and Clary allegedly ran into a back room. He then reportedly resisted arrest as he was being handcuffed and he kicked a North Judson Reserve Officer. He was restrained and taken to the Starke County Jail.

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Two Arrested after Police Find Meth Labs

Traci Jacobs
Richard Warner

Officers from the Starke County Sheriff’s Department arrested two after one pot method meth labs were found in a residence in North Judson on Thursday.

Officers received information about the whereabouts of Traci Jacobs who was wanted on two warrants for Failure to Appear. A detective from the Starke County Sheriff’s Department contacted the bonds company and sent agents to 6190 S. 250 W. in North Judson. The agents said that they had Jacobs in custody as well as Richard Warner, of North Judson. They also notified the Sheriff’s Department that there were several pop bottles in the bedroom closet that appeared to be one pot meth labs.

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Starke County Safety Traffic Partnership to Conduct Traffic Blitz

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The Starke County Traffic Safety Partnership will be conducting a Safe Family Travel patrol beginning this Friday and it will continue through November 27th.

This blitz is a grant from the Indiana Criminal Justice Institute and will focus on impaired drivers and seat belt enforcement. This grant will allow additional officers to enforce these laws and they will not be giving out warnings. They will be issuing tickets to those who are in violation of these laws.

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