Koontz Lake Man Arrested on Warrant, Drug Charges

Dorsie (DJ) Cooper
Dorsie (DJ) Cooper

A 20-year-old man was arrested Friday morning after police allegedly found him in possession of drugs and drug paraphernalia.

Officers from the Starke County Sheriff’s Department and K9 Terror went to a home in the 8000 N. Block of Tecumseh Road in Koontz Lake to serve an active arrest warrant. Police arrived and found the wanted individual, Dorsie (DJ) Cooper, at the residence.

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Arson Trial Set to Start in Starke Circuit Court

 
 

Almost a year after a set fire destroyed a Knox business the owner is scheduled to stand trial in Starke Circuit Court. James Campbell owns C&C Salvage on U.S. 35 just south of Toto Road. It caught fire on March 20. The Bass Lake, Knox-Center Township, Hamlet, Washington Township, Koontz Lake, North Judson-Wayne Township, San Pierre and Monterey Fire Departments all responded to the blaze and spent several hours getting it under control. One firefighter was injured. Black smoke was visible for miles, and a brigade of tanker trucks hauled water to the scene. Continue reading

Second Suspect Arrested in Burglary Investigation

Robert Manns

Another suspect has been arrested in a burglary investigation in Starke County.

On Feb. 16, a North Judson man called police to report that two men were coming out of his garage with his possessions and ran through the woods. Officers were able to track footprints to a neighboring pole barn to the north where the stolen items were found, according to a press release.

Rickie Clemons, 19, of Knox was arrested on site and has preliminary charges of burglary and theft.

Robert Manns, 40, of Knox had an active warrant for his arrest for his alleged involvement in this burglary. His information was featured on the Starke County’s Most Wanted list, and an anonymous tip led police to his location. On Thursday, March 12, deputies from the Stake County Sheriff’s Department, along with the K9 unit, arrived at a home in the 6200 south block of 250 W. in North Judson. Officers heard movement in the residence and after five minutes, a woman answered the door, according to police. They entered the residence with K9 Terror and located Manns hiding in a trap door and arrested him without incident.

Manns was booked into the Starke County Jail on charges of burglary and theft. Both suspects are being held in the Starke County Jail on a $25,000 bond.

He pleaded not guilty to the charges in Starke Circuit Court on Friday morning and was appointed a public defender.

The Starke County Most Wanted list is available by clicking here.

Knox Man Arrested after Alleged Domestic, Intimidation Incident

Giselbach Booking ohoto
Benny Giselbach

A Knox man is in the Starke County Jail after allegedly threatening harm to himself, his wife, and law enforcement.

The 911 Dispatch Center received an open 911 call from a woman Wednesday afternoon stating that her husband had a loaded weapon and made threats toward her and himself. He also threatened to harm law enforcement officers if they arrived at the home.

Dispatchers were able to use GPS from the 911 call to determine the caller’s location according to a press release. At one point, the call was disconnected, but the dispatchers utilized the TEXT 911 service to gather more information to relay to responding Starke County Sheriff’s Department officers.  Continue reading

Starke County K9 Performs Routine Sweep at Local School

K9 handler Rob Olejniczak and Terror perform a search
K9 handler Rob Olejniczak and Terror perform a search

The Starke County Sheriff’s Department K9 did a routine sweep at the Oregon-Davis School Corporation on Thursday morning.

Handler Rob Olejniczak took K9 Terror around the corporation to search for possible drugs in lockers and the parking lot. No evidence of any illegal drugs was found.

Starke County Sheriff Bill Dulin and the officers are appreciative of the school’s effort to keep Starke County a safe environment. Principal Tim Pletcher and School Resource Officer Frank Lonigro were also recognized for their efforts.

Photo provided.

Police Find Meth Lab in Camper

Stacy Tramaine
Stacy Tremaine
Michael Meeks
Michael Meeks

A verification of a registered sex offender’s address in Starke County turned into a meth lab bust.

An officer from the Starke County Sheriff’s Department went to 1833 E. 350 S. in Knox. As he approached the residence, he saw an HCL generator, which is an item commonly used in the manufacture of methamphetamine, according to a press release. The homeowner gave consent to the search their residence which happened to be a camper. The officer reportedly found methamphetamine, methamphetamine precursors, syringes, and other paraphernalia used to manufacture the drug.

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Child Found Walking along State Road 8

 
 

A report will be filed with the Starke County Prosecutor’s Office after a four-year-old child was found walking alone down State Road 8 in the area of County Road 1100 East.

The person who made the call picked up the child and waited until an officer arrived at the scene. The officer attempted to locate the child’s home but was unsuccessful. The officer also could not find the child’s parents, so the child’s custody was turned over to the Department of Child Services, according to a press release.

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Teen Arrested on Burglary, Theft Charges

 
 

A Knox teen is being held in the Starke County Jail in connection with a Sunday morning  burglary incident.

Officials in the Starke County Dispatch Center fielded a call from a victim in the 7000 South block of 250 West in North Judson. The victim told police that he was outside and saw two men coming out of his garage with arms full of his tools, according to a press release. Chainsaws, a portable welder, hand tools and other power tools were reportedly taken.

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K9 Assisted Drug Investigation Leads to Two Arrests

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

North Judson Girl Injured in Starke County Accident

 
 

An eight-year-old North Judson girl was airlifted from the scene of a crash at the intersection of County Road 400 South and Range Road Tuesday afternoon.

According to an investigation by the Indiana State Police, Jana N. Sirb, 40, of North Judson was driving east on County Road 400 South when she lost control of her vehicle on the slushy roadway while attempting to stop at the intersection. Robert F. Hajek, 73, of North Judson was unable to avoid Sirb’s car when traveling south on Range Road.

Sirb complained of pain but refused medical treatment, according to the news release. Her daughter, Linora Sirb, 8, was airlifted from the scene to South Bend Memorial Hospital after suffering a severe leg injury. Continue reading

Starke County Creates Sheriff’s Department Receptionist Position

 
 

The Starke County Sheriff’s Department will soon have a receptionist in addition to the full-time matron after action last week by the Starke County Council and Commissioners. Sheriff Bill Dulin sought permission to add an employee to process civil papers, answer the telephone, greet visitors and provide general clerical support to the department. Some of that work has been done by dispatchers in the past, but Dulin advised the council and commissioners the state jail inspector could cut funds to the 911 center if they are caught doing work not that’s not part of their statutory job description. The county council discussed the issue and decided it’s not worth the risk, especially since funds for the new position are already in the sheriff’s budget. Dulin also noted the floor plan for the new jail is different, and 911 center and main entrance are in separate parts of the building. The matron will continue handling sheriff’s sales and processing payroll and claims for the sheriff’s department. Continue reading

Starke County K9 Officers Graduate from Training

Rob Olejniczak and "Terror"
Rob Olejniczak and “Terror”

Starke County’s new K9 officers have graduated from training at the Von Liche Kennels in Denver, Ind.

Officer Rob Olejniczak and K9 “Terror” have spent the past five weeks learning how to perform traffic stops, building searches, open area searches for drugs, and searches of a suspect. Olejniczak also learned how to detect the dog’s change of behavior when the dog alerts to the presence of drugs. Filing proper paperwork and how to condition the K9 outside of school were other educational topics.

When Olejniczak and “Terror” go into service at the Starke County Sheriff’s Department, they will be available to aid other departments in the county and outside the county for drug searches.

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