Starke County Environmental Collection Event Begins Four Day Run

Posted on Author WKVI
Workers prepare computers to be hauled away during last year's environmental collection event

The Starke County Environmental Management District’s Collection Event begins today at the Starke County Highway Garage. Household appliances, computers, televisions, fluorescent lamps and PCB ballasts, and tires will be accepted from 2:30-5:30 p.m. CT today through Friday and Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

On Saturday, April 30th, household hazardous waste will be accepted from 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. only. Flammable liquids, pesticides/herbicides, corrosive liquids/acids, non-conforming waste, paints, toxic solids, motor oil and antifreeze are some of the hazardous chemicals that will be accepted. For a complete list of acceptable products and limits, visit the ad on this website.

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Starke County Safety Partnership to Participate in Truck Seatbelt Enforcement

Posted on Author WKVI

The Starke County Traffic Safety Partnership will be conducting a Rural Demonstration Project beginning Friday, April 29th through Sunday, May 15th. This is a special grant to be used for truck seatbelt enforcement.

During the Traffic Safety Partnership’s last enforcement blitz, 10 officers spent 41 hours on increased traffic patrol. 4 seat belt citations were given, 1 misdemeanor DUI arrest was made, 1 criminal misdemeanor arrest was made, 1 criminal felony arrest was made and 14 speed violations were recorded. 47 traffic warnings were issued with a total of 65 vehicles being stopped. The enforcement ran from February 26th through March 4th.

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Two Starke County Residents Arrested after Traffic Stop

Posted on Author WKVI

Two Starke County residents were arrested today on felony charges after a traffic stop by Starke County police.

Officers recognized Heather Manns, 33, of North Judson traveling as a passenger in a vehicle and police stopped the vehicle at the intersection of Culver Road and US 35 in Knox. Officers took her into custody on a Failure to Appear warrant through Starke County and she was also wanted out of Pulaski County.

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National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week Focuses on the Efforts of Dispatchers

Posted on Author WKVI
Melissa Osburn

We have been recognizing emergency dispatchers this week for National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week. Melissa Osburn, who has been at the Starke County Sheriff’s Department for two years, says they take a variety of emergency calls.

“It can be anything from a medical emergency, structure fire, grass fires, civil matters – it’s anything that anyone would have a problem with,” said Osburn.

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Remember When to Call 9-1-1

Posted on Author WKVI
Robin Banks

This week is National Public Safety Telecommunicators Week. Emergency services dispatchers are the first to hear of your emergency and they are responsible for getting police, fire, and EMS out to help you in your time of need.

Robin Banks has been a dispatcher at the Starke County Sheriff’s Department for 19 years. She says it’s important to be sure to answer all questions so they can give emergency personnel the information they need.

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Knox Man Arrested after Leaving Children Alone in a Home

Posted on Author WKVI
Curtis Bradley

A Knox man was arrested Wednesday after police found he left his children unattended in a home.

According to the police report, the Starke County Sheriff’s Department received a call that a person in a red truck was doing donuts in the parking lot at the Oak Estates apartments. The Knox City Police Department officer called to the scene didn’t find anyone there at the time, but the officer did locate the suspect vehicle at 345 Ruthie Drive with one of the rear truck tires on fire. The reporting officer noted that there was a pile of melted rubber behind the tire and there was a large skid mark in the road. The officer approached the residence and found Curtis Bradley in the home and asked if the truck outside was his and Bradley confirmed it was his. The officer told him that the truck was on fire and they went outside to the truck. Bradley reportedly tried to touch the burning tire and the officer pulled him back so he wouldn’t injure himself. Bradley then started to swing his arms at the officer wanting to fight. The officer told him to put his hands behind his back and Bradley resisted. After some force, Bradley was taken into custody. The fire department was called to extinguish the fire.

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John Brooke and Kimberly Hitchens Combined Trial Begins Friday in Starke Circuit Court

Posted on Author WKVI
John Brooke
Kimberly Hitchens

The combined trial of Kimberly Hitchens and John Brooke is expected to begin with jury selection on Friday, April 8th at 9:00 a.m. in Starke Circuit Court.

According to court documents, on February 15th, 2010, Starke County officers went to a home at Bass Lake to serve an arrest warrant to Michael Drogosz, who allegedly planned an ambush on police when they served him the warrant. Kimberly Hitchens told police that Drogosz was not at the residence when they appeared. Drogosz was at the residence and in possession of assault rifles and incendiary devices and he did open fire on police with an assault weapon. An accomplice, James Reed, reportedly called John Brooke to come to the residence. He appeared carrying an assault rifle and wearing body armor.

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Two injured in Three Car Accident in Front of Knoll Brothers Truck Stop

Posted on Author WKVI

Three vehicles were involved in an accident in front of the Knoll Brothers Truck Stop in Starke County at about 7:23 p.m. CT Friday, April 1st.

According to Starke County police, Charles Peterson, of Dysart, Iowa, was crossing the median into the parking lot pulling an oversized load. His trailer was just short of clearing the westbound lanes when Virginia Doenges, of South Whitley, Indiana, crashed into the middle axle of the trailer. Peterson continued into the parking lot and stopped. Doenges was incapacitated and could not be questioned about the crash; However, a witness told police that she never slowed down and crashed into the axle of the trailer and then spun around, coming to rest with no lights on in the middle of both westbound lanes. A third driver, Jamshid Nazari, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, never saw Doenges’ vehicle and was unable to avoid striking the car in the front right fender. A witness told police that Nazari never slowed to avoid the crash. The Ozeri Law Firm Injury & Accident Lawyers brain injury attorney in Brooklyn has been contacted for guidance and to help in the investigation, If you are ever in this position hire a lawyer from Montagna Law .

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Starke County Sheriff’s Department Investigating Theft from San Pierre Auto

Posted on Author WKVI

The Starke County Sheriff’s Department is seeking information on a theft from the San Pierre Auto dealership.

On Tuesday, March 22nd, officers were called to San Pierre Auto in reference to a broken window in the building. The suspect or suspects broke out the front window of the building and it looked like they crawled through the window to enter the business. While inside, the suspect(s) went through the desk drawers and cabinets throughout the building. They took five vehicle titles from a desk drawer, key fobs for four vehicles from a cabinet, one new NAPA battery, a battery jump pack and one expired dealer plate from 2008. It also appeared the suspect(s) went into the garage and went through all the tools. A knife reportedly used to pry open a safe was taken into evidence by police.

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Starke County Police Arrest Knox Man after Brief Police Chase

Posted on Author WKVI
Tad Gentry

Tad Gentry, of Knox, was arrested Wednesday afternoon after a brief police chase in Starke County.

According to Rob Olejniczak from the Starke County Sheriff’s Department, he spotted a vehicle being driven by Gentry on State Road 8 and 1025 E. in Starke County. He had false and fictitious plates and no driver’s license. The officer initiated a traffic stop and Gentry did not stop and ran from police on 1025 E. After traveling for a mile-an-a-half, Gentry lost control of his vehicle, went off the road, into a field and hit a tree. He then fled on foot for a short distance when police apprehended him and took him into custody. Officers reportedly found methamphetamine and marijuana in his possession at the time of his arrest.

Gentry has preliminary charges of Habitual Traffic Violator for Life, Resisting Law Enforcement by Fleeing in a Vehicle, Resisting Law Enforcement on foot, Possession of Methamphetamine and Possession of Marijuana.

Police Arrest 76 Involved in Cock Fighting

Posted on Author WKVI
Two of the 145 fighting cocks are rounded up to be euthanized

It was a scene reminiscent of an old time western movie. Police from throughout the County and State rounded up 76 individuals involved in “cock fighting”. The arrests were made on Saturday morning at 0480 North 100 West in Starke County.

Law enforcement officers were responding to an anonymous tip.

“The Sheriff’s Department received an anonymous tip of animal fighting contests out at a residence on 100 West,” stated Starke County Chief Deputy, Bill Dulin. “Along with the Sheriff’s Department, we responded with the Indiana Conservation Units, State Police, Knox City Police, and North Judson units. When we got there, we noticed 10 or 15 vehicles and when we approached, 50 to 60 people took off running toward a river in an open field.”

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Accident Claims Life of North Judson Man

Posted on Author WKVI

The Starke County Sheriff’s Department investigated a fatal accident late Friday afternoon.

According to the accident report, Edward O’Boyle was traveling eastbound on State Road 10 when 93-year-old William Lemke pulled into the roadway from the Highland Cemetery, attempting to go westbound on State Road 10. O’Boyle told police he was unable to avoid striking Lemke’s vehicle on the driver’s side. Lemke was pronounced dead at the scene. O’Boyle sustained minor injuries. Both O’Boyle and Lemke are from North Judson.

A witness told police that she saw Lemke stopped at the stop sign at the entrance of Highland Cemetery. She said that the sun was about to set and that it was hard to see oncoming traffic.

30 Meth Labs Dismantled in Starke County by the Indiana State Police in 2010

Posted on Author WKVI

The Indiana State Police-Lowell and Bremen Districts released methamphetamine lab statistics from the counties they serve. 6 meth labs have been seized by the Department in LaPorte County and in Pulaski County, 6 in Jasper County, 7 in White County, 16 in Fulton County, 15 in Cass County, and 53 in Marshall County.

30 meth labs were seized by Indiana State Police in Starke County.

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