Shortly after noon on Sunday, December 24th, Starke County Dispatch received a 911 call advising of a burglary in progress.
According to information received by Starke County Sheriff Bill Dulin, the 911 caller stated they had just witnessed a man gain entry into a home through a back door. Continue reading →
Starke County Sheriff Bill Dulin reports that three male subjects wearing hoodies and masks covering their faces broke into the KP Corner gas station located at 7090 S State Road 10 in Bass Lake on December 21st. According to Sheriff Dulin, the incident occurred around 3:50 a.m. Thursday. Continue reading →
A Tuesday morning crash east of North Judson reportedly ended with a 72-year-old man being thrown from his SUV. Officers with the Starke County Sheriff’s Department say it happened around 8:30 near the intersection of State Road 10 and State Road 39 North.
An enforcement effort was conducted on Friday, Nov. 17 between the members of the Indiana State Police-Lowell District All Crimes Policing Team (ACP) and officers from the Starke County Sheriff’s Department, Knox City Police Department and the North Judson Police Department.
Chief Deputy Frank Thomas, Police Chief Kelly Fisher, James Dulin & Officer Rico Simpson (photo provided by Peggy Bohac)
Town Marshal Kelly Fisher recommended appointing James Dulin to the open position at the North Judson Police Department during last night’s North Judson Town Council meeting.
According to Fisher, the hiring process included a physical agility test that was structured after academy exit standards, a written exam and point-based interviews conducted by a seven person panel.
The panel included all three full-time officers with the NJ PD, a retired resident with past law-enforcement experience, a former Chief Deputy, a current officer with the Starke County Sheriff’s Department and Councilman John Rowe as the town council’s liaison. Continue reading →
A semi trailer containing grain rolled onto an unoccupied service truck Thursday afternoon.
According to the Starke County Sheriff’s Department, a semi driver pulled over to the side of the road with mechanical issues at the intersection of State Road 8 and State Road 39 around 4 p.m. CT. Police say the driver attempted to unhook the semi from the trailer to reconnect with a different semi when the trailer became unstable and rolled over. The trailer rolled onto a pickup truck parked near the rear of the trailer. The pickup truck was owned by the repair company that was at the scene to assist the semi driver with the mechanical issues. No one was inside the pickup truck at the time of the incident and no other injuries were reported.
For the first time in awhile, the law-enforcement agencies of Starke County are joining the state-wide Operation Pull Over campaign. The initiative started on Friday and will run through December 3rd. During this time, there will be increased patrols where officers will be on the look out for motorists violating the seat belt and impaired driving laws.
North Judson Town Marshall Kelly Fisher said her officers will be joining members of the Hamlet and Knox Police Departments as well as the Starke County Sheriff’s Office with the operation. She said it’s important to have this blitz at this time of the year since more people are out on the road visiting friends and family for the holidays.
One bit of advice she had for motorists was to have a designated driver if they plan to be attending a party where they’ll be drinking. She explained the procedure of what happens when an officer has probable cause to pull a vehicle over for driving under the influence. Continue reading →
The Starke County Sheriff’s Department Dispatch Center confirmed that a two vehicle accident was reported on State Road 8 west of State Road 23 shortly before 1:30 p.m. Tuesday afternoon. Continue reading →
A trial for 45-year-old Clayton Conley, of North Judson, is scheduled in Starke Circuit Court today. Conley is reportedly charged with stalking, a level 6 felony.
According to the provided police report, Conley was arrested twice on March 29th for separate incidents involving his sister. Detective Sergeant Adam Gray with the Starke County Sheriff’s Department reports that Conley was first escorted off his sister’s property around 7:53 a.m. when he refused to leave after an argument. Continue reading →
An investigation into numerous thefts in North Judson has resulted in several arrests.
Sean Wilson, 18, and Anthony Morales, 18, were arrested for their alleged involvement in several burglaries, unauthorized entry into motor vehicles, and theft. They are suspected of these acts over the past few months in the North Judson area. Many of the reported incidents occurred in the overnight hours.
Wilson was arrested on Sunday, Oct. 29 and is being held in the Starke County Jail. Morales was booked into the Starke County Jail on Friday, Oct. 27 and faces a preliminary felony charge of burglary and a misdemeanor charge of theft.
Starke County Sheriff Bill Dulin said one juvenile faces charges in this case and one more arrest is expected.
The Starke County Sheriff’s Department’s investigation into numerous thefts from vehicles in the Bass Lake area has resulted in the arrest of four teenagers.
According to Sheriff Bill Dulin, 18-year-old Anthony Lucas and 18-year-old Michael Ford reportedly stole items from unlocked vehicles during the overnight hours that span several days. Sheriff Dulin said the term is “car hop” is being used as this profiles that type of behavior.
Lucas and Ford are both from the Bass Lake area.
They were taken into custody on Tuesday, Oct. 24 and booked into the Starke County Jail on preliminary misdemeanor charges of theft and unauthorized entry into a motor vehicle. They both remain in the Starke County Jail with a $5,000 bond.
Dulin said two other juveniles face prosecution in this investigation.
All four police agencies in Starke County will participate in the upcoming Operation Pull Over Campaign.
Chad Dulin is the coordinator for the Starke County effort. He told the Knox Board of Public Works members Wednesday morning that Starke County is getting 100 hours from the St. Joseph County’s Sheriff’s Department’s enforcement effort to participate in the campaign. Dulin said the county hasn’t been a part of an Operation Pullover campaign for some time and this is a way to get back into the program. Continue reading →
Problems persist with Starke County’s emergency radio system. Several months ago, the Koontz Lake Volunteer Fire Department was having trouble communicating with dispatchers. On Monday, it was the Knox Volunteer Fire Department that was having problems, according to County Commissioner Donnie Binkley. Continue reading →
Shortly after 4 p.m. on Sunday, October 22nd, the Starke County Sheriff’s Department, Knox City Police, Starke County EMS, Knox Fire Department and Washington Township Fire Department responded to a traffic accident on State Road 8 near 600 East.
According to the police report, the accident involved three vehicles. The preliminary investigation indicates that a male juvenile was driving a 2004 Pontiac Grand Am traveling east on State Road 8 when he veered across the center line, striking a full-size handicap Ford van, occupied by a male and female traveling west on SR 8.Continue reading →
Today from 7:30 until 9 a.m. the Starke County Chamber of Commerce is hosting a Coffee with a Cop event at the Downtown Depot in Knox.
Whether it’s to ask questions, voice concerns, or to simply chat and listen, the Chamber of Commerce encourages Starke County residents to spend a few minutes conversing with Sheriff Bill Dulin, Police Chief Harold Smith and other local authorities over a cup of a joe.
Coffee with a Cop is a way to connect law-enforcement officials with members of the community directly. The event provides a casual platform for residents to share their voices and feel that they’re being heard. To learn more about the program that started as a grass-roots initiative and developed into a world-wide movement, visit coffeewithacop.com.
Hamlet officials want some more information before agreeing to let the Starke County Sheriff’s Department use the indoor firing range at the town’s sewer plant. In a letter to town officials, Sheriff Bill Dulin offered to have his firearms instructors qualify the town’s police officers free of charge, in exchange for letting them use the range to qualify officers from other departments.
A Koontz Lake man was found guilty of three meth-related charges by a jury in Starke Circuit Court Thursday. Troy Bell was arrested in April of 2016, following a drug raid in Koontz Lake.
Unmowed grass at Highland Cemetery has led to a complaint to the North Judson Town Council. During last week’s meeting, one resident said the condition of the cemetery was a disgrace and asked council members to fix the problem.
Starke County Sheriff Bill Dulin asked the county council members to review the pay scale for the sheriff’s department.
Sheriff Dulin said he’s losing officers to other departments and the salary offered is not competitive with other departments. In fact, he told the council that he’s lost four officers. He said it’s hard to attract applicants with what he’s able to offer. Dulin mentioned that his department is the lowest paid department in the county and the eighth lowest in terms of competitive salaries in the state.
A traffic stop in Knox on Tuesday morning resulted in the arrest of three Knox residents for allegedly dealing heroin.
Knox City Police officers performed the stop at the Marathon gas station at Lake Street and U.S. 35. Police say during the traffic stop they witnessed James R. Landrum, Jr., 29, attempt to hide items underneath the back seat as he was exiting the vehicle.
Shortly after noon on Sunday, December 24th, Starke County Dispatch received a 911 call advising of a burglary in progress.
Starke County Sheriff Bill Dulin reports that three male subjects wearing hoodies and masks covering their faces broke into the KP Corner gas station located at 7090 S State Road 10 in Bass Lake on December 21st. According to Sheriff Dulin, the incident occurred around 3:50 a.m. Thursday. Continue reading 
A Tuesday morning crash east of North Judson reportedly ended with a 72-year-old man being thrown from his SUV. Officers with the Starke County Sheriff’s Department say it happened around 8:30 near the intersection of State Road 10 and State Road 39 North.
An enforcement effort was conducted on Friday, Nov. 17 between the members of the Indiana State Police-Lowell District All Crimes Policing Team (ACP) and officers from the Starke County Sheriff’s Department, Knox City Police Department and the North Judson Police Department.
A semi trailer containing grain rolled onto an unoccupied service truck Thursday afternoon.
For the first time in awhile, the law-enforcement agencies of Starke County are joining the state-wide Operation Pull Over campaign. The initiative started on Friday and will run through December 3rd. During this time, there will be increased patrols where officers will be on the look out for motorists violating the seat belt and impaired driving laws.
A trial for 45-year-old Clayton Conley, of North Judson, is scheduled in Starke Circuit Court today. Conley is reportedly charged with stalking, a level 6 felony.
Problems persist with Starke County’s emergency radio system. Several months ago, the Koontz Lake Volunteer Fire Department was having trouble communicating with dispatchers. On Monday, it was the Knox Volunteer Fire Department that was having problems, according to County Commissioner Donnie Binkley. Continue reading 
Shortly after 4 p.m. on Sunday, October 22nd, the Starke County Sheriff’s Department, Knox City Police, Starke County EMS, Knox Fire Department and Washington Township Fire Department responded to a traffic accident on State Road 8 near 600 East.
Continue reading 
Today from 7:30 until 9 a.m. the Starke County Chamber of Commerce is hosting a Coffee with a Cop event at the Downtown Depot in Knox.
Hamlet officials want some more information before agreeing to let the Starke County Sheriff’s Department use the indoor firing range at the town’s sewer plant. In a letter to town officials, Sheriff Bill Dulin offered to have his firearms instructors qualify the town’s police officers free of charge, in exchange for letting them use the range to qualify officers from other departments.
A Koontz Lake man was found guilty of three meth-related charges by a jury in Starke Circuit Court Thursday. Troy Bell was arrested in April of 2016, following a drug raid in Koontz Lake.
Unmowed grass at Highland Cemetery has led to a complaint to the North Judson Town Council. During last week’s meeting, one resident said the condition of the cemetery was a disgrace and asked council members to fix the problem.
A traffic stop in Knox on Tuesday morning resulted in the arrest of three Knox residents for allegedly dealing heroin.
