The body of an 82-year-old North Judson man was found Wednesday morning after a Silver Alert was issued by the North Judson Police Department. Robert L. Lemke was found after he was reported missing when a family member went to check on him on Tuesday evening. Lemke was believed to have left home on foot sometime between the evening hours Sunday, January 2nd and Tuesday evening.
The North Judson Police Department had issued a Silver Alert earlier Wednesday for a missing 82-year-old North Judson man. North Judson Town Marshal, Doug Vessely canceled the Alert at 7:40 a.m. CT when Robert L. Lemke was found deceased about a half mile from his home in a lightly wooded area. Robert Lemke was last known to be in the vicinity of Vine Street in North Judson at 4:00 p.m. CT Sunday, January 2nd.
North Judson Town Marshal, Doug Vessely, reports that in the month of December 2010, there were 134 police calls, 25 traffic stops, 3 thefts-conversion, 5 accidents, and 4 family disturbance calls. 2 Battery reports, 2 Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated reports, 2 thefts-conversion reports and 2 alcohol-drug reports were filed. 14 traffic/ordinance tickets were written, 11 traffic warnings were given, and 6 adults arrests were made.
Police officers will be out during the New Year’s Day holiday weekend and they will be on the lookout for drunk drivers. Jeremiah Patrick, Coordinator of the Starke County Traffic Safety Partnership, reports that officers from the organization will be out in force this weekend. The Starke County Traffic Safety Partnership includes officers from the Starke County Sheriff’s Department, Knox City Police Department and the North Judson Police Department. Officers from the LaPorte County Sheriff’s Department will also be out in force to help detect drunk drivers.
The discussion between the Starke County Commissioners and outgoing Prosecutor Julianne Havens came to an amicable agreement Monday night. Havens had earlier submitted claims for law enforcement needs and the Commissioners questioned whether the funding was appropriate for the funding source. Havens, herself, eliminated some of the items from questionable categories.
“It gets complicated because I can use the IV-D fund for child support enforcement and for five years I’ve been using it to support child support,” explained Prosecutor Havens. “This year, I was going to try and focus on the enforcement aspect of it which, to me, means police. They agreed with my argument. However, they indicated that if an audit were to happen, the way they look at it is a proportional nexus. They are going to look at it whether or not the police are out supporting child support, making arrests, picking up people on body attachments and things of that nature. Their fear is that the proportionate nexus is not going to be enough for them to say that these funds that were spent were reasonable.”
North Judson Town Marshal, Doug Vessely, reports that in the month of November, the North Judson Police Department had 153 calls, 30 traffic stops, 15 lockouts, 8 thefts/conversion, 3 accidents, and 12 family disturbance calls.
The Starke County Traffic Safety Partnership was among several law enforcement agencies who were recently honored during the 16th Annual Operation Pull Over Awards Banquet in Carmel, Indiana.
The Starke County Traffic Safety Partnership received an award for Outstanding OPO Partnership. The organization also received a $2,500 Equipment Award to be used for the purchase of law enforcement equipment of their choice. The TSP members include the Knox City Police Department, North Judson Police Department, and the Starke County Sheriff’s Department.
Police responded to an anonymous drug tip on Saturday afternoon that resulted in several felony arrests. Police arrived at 5880 W. 500 S. in North Judson where the home owner refused to allow police into the residence. After police left, a vehicle left the residence and passed the police. The driver was not wearing a seat belt and Mat Anderson from the North Judson Police Department attempted to perform a traffic stop but a short pursuit ensued. During the pursuit, items were thrown out of the vehicle. The items were located and taken into custody. The driver, Stephen Adrian Braasch, 28, of Argos, was arrested.
