A pickup truck versus motorcycle crash west of North Judson last night claimed two lives. It happened around 8:30 p.m. on State Road 10 at 700 West, according to dispatchers from the Starke County Sheriff’s Department. Continue reading
Two Knox residents were arrested on Friday after police allegedly found items to manufacture methamphetamine and the finished product inside a residence.
Officers from the Starke County Sheriff’s Department executed a search warrant at a residence in the 2000 E. block of 400 S. in Knox. Inactive methamphetamine labs were found along with precursors, drug paraphernalia, and Schedule II controlled substances, according to a news release.
A Starke County fugitive is in jail after Pulaski County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to an open-line 911 call in rural Medaryville last night. The call from a home in the 15000 block of West 160 North came in just before 9:30 p.m., according to a news release. Dispatchers called back and were told a child was playing with the telephone, and there was not an emergency. Continue reading
Video evidence introduced in the arson trial of a Knox businessman indicates he was the last person to leave the property and did so minutes before the first smoke was visible. James Campbell owns Starke County Recycling, Campbell’s Tire Barn and C&C Salvage on U.S. 35 south of Toto Road in Knox. The businesses caught fire just after 5 p.m. on March 20, 2014. Then-Chief Investigator Kenny Pfost from the Starke County Sheriff’s Department testified Campbell left the business at 4:59 p.m. and pulled into his driveway next door. He left his house at 5:02 p.m., and the first smoke was spotted on the video 40-seconds later. Video also indicates two employees left just before Campbell did. Continue reading
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.
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
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.
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
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.
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.
The trial for a Knox man accused of beating his wife to death at their rural California Township home, kidnapping an employee from the Mark Bailey’s parking lot, stealing a second car in English Lake and leading authorities on a high-speed chase through four counties last June is still on schedule to start in April. Continue reading
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.
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.
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
A Walkerton woman who was arrested during a meth lab investigation in Hamlet faces additional charges after staff at the Starke County Jail allegedly found drugs during the booking process. Continue reading
A pair of suspects in a Knox break-in face charges in connection with the incident. Officers from the Starke County Sheriff’s Department arrested Kyle Scheib and Curtis Rowe on Friday, Feb. 6 in connection with a Jan. 14 burglary in the 400 east block of 250 South. Continue reading
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
A Knox man and a Warsaw woman face charges after police in Starke County reportedly found an inactive meth lab, drugs and paraphernalia at their home, which is located next door to a preschool. Continue reading
A Wednesday traffic stop at the intersection of Lake and McGill Streets in downtown Knox ended with a trip to jail thanks to assistance from Starke County’s new K-9. A deputy pulled over a vehicle driven by David P. Howard, 31, because he was known not to have a valid driver’s license. The vehicle was registered to the passenger, Brandy Gayheart, 22, of Walkerton. Continue reading
A disturbance call to the Stay 4 Less Motel on U.S. 30 in Hamlet last night led to the arrests of two Knox women. According to a news release, deputies from the Starke County Sheriff’s and Knox Police Departments found items reported stolen from a Knox residence on Monday. Continue reading
