Starke County Law Enforcement to Participate in Operation Pull Over Blitz

Posted on Author WKVI

The Starke County Sheriff’s Department, Hamlet Police Department, Knox City Police Department and the North Judson Police Department will be participating in an Operation Pull Over Blitz that begins today and goes through June 5th. Officers will be on extra patrols to conduct a campaign on seat belt safety.

This enforcement period is designed to save lives and the officers encourage all occupants in a vehicle to wear their seat belts. Anyone not wearing their seat belt when stopped by police will receive a ticket. 250 other police agencies throughout the state will be focusing on this seat belt enforcement. Officers will also be watching for drivers who follow too closely, make unsafe lane changes, drive aggressively, fail to properly restrain children in child seats, and operate a vehicle while impaired.

Three Starke County Residents Arrested after Police Find Methamphetamine in Home

Posted on Author WKVI
David P. Howard
Doug Beem
Myrtle Beem

Three Starke County residents were arrested Tuesday on methamphetamine related charges. Officers from the Starke County Sheriff’s Department conducted a search warrant at Myrtle Beem’s residence at 9792 E. 150 N. in Grovertown where they allegedly found methamphetamine, precursors to manufacture methamphetamine, controlled substances, legend drugs and drug paraphernalia.

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Starke County Sheriff’s Department Investigates Fatal Accident

Posted on Author WKVI

Starke County Sheriff’s Department officers responded to a one vehicle car accident Wednesday on 600 E. near 400 North in Hamlet. A red pickup truck was located in the ditch and was occupied by Don Paul, 74, of Grovertown. Paul was taken to IU Health Starke Hospital where he was pronounced dead. A medical condition is believed to have caused the accident. Assisting at the scene were the Hamlet and Knox Fire Departments.

Search Warrant Served at Scrap Yard May have Uncovered Stolen Items from Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum

Posted on Author WKVI

North Judson Police Chief, Doug Vessely, told the North Judson Town Board this week that a recent search warrant conducted at the scrap yard in Knox by the Starke County Sheriff’s Department, Knox City Police Department and the North Judson Police Department may have uncovered stolen property from the Hoosier Valley Railroad Museum in North Judson. Museum staff had reported joint bars stolen plus other items worth thousands of dollars. The incident remains under investigation.

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Environmental Collection Event in Starke County a Success

Posted on Author WKVI
A semi load of tires, similar to this load from last year, was hauled from the Highway Garage Saturday afternoon

The 2011 Environmental event at the Starke County Highway Garage was a big success. A record number of vehicles passed through during the four day event that occurred Wednesday, April 27th through Saturday, April 30th.

750 vehicles came through where residents were able to dispose of their materials. 450 of those vehicles came through on Saturday. 1,500 gallons of oil was disposed of, 6 semi trailers of tires were hauled away, and several semi loads of appliances and computers were taken from the Highway Garage. Two semi loads of hazardous waste was collected.

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Starke County Sheriff’s Department, Knox City Police Keeping Eye on Gas Prices

Posted on Author WKVI

The national average of a gallon of regular gasoline is over the $4.00 mark and that hurts the pocketbook of all consumers in the United States. It also affects the fuel line item in County, City and Town budgets.

Starke County Sheriff, Oscar Cowen, told WKVI that the Sheriff’s Department staff is keeping an eye on the prices, but services to the citizens will not diminish because gas prices are high. He said that when we saw a spike in prices in 2008, the Sheriff’s Department made it through and hopes to come within the fuel budget this time around.

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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.