Incidents:

3/14/16 – Officers responded to a residence in the 9700 block of East 700 North in Koontz Lake to take a battery report.
3/14/16 – The Starke County Sheriff’s Office, Starke County EMS and Washington Township Fire Department First Responders all responded to a two-vehicle crash in the 8600 block of south 700 East in Knox.
3/14/16 – The Starke County Sheriff’s Office, Starke County EMS and Hamlet Fire Department responded to a single-vehicle rollover accident at the intersection of State Road 8 and Range Road in Knox.
3/14/16 – A resident in the 4400 block of SR 210 filed a vandalism report.
3/15/16 – A resident in the 10900 block of East Hazel Boulevard in Monterey asked to file a theft report for a license plate. He advised he loaned it to someone last week and they have not returned it.
3/15/16 – A resident in the 300 block of South 100 West in Knox reported someone has applied for a loan using her identification.
3/15/16 – A brush fire was reported in the 600 South block of 200 East in Knox. It was a controlled burn.
3/15/16 – A resident in the 700 block of South Shield Street in Knox reported a vehicle break-in.
3/16/16 – A resident in the 7300 block of East 600 North in Hamlet reported people in the woods with flashlights.
3/16/16 – Officials at the North Judson San Pierre Veterinary Clinic reported the collapse of a wall of an old building across the street in the 100 block of South Broadway in San Pierre. It did fall on anyone or anything.
3/16/16 – A vehicle versus pole accident was reported at the intersection of State Roads 10 and 23 in Knox.
3/16/16 – A suspicious vehicle was reported in the 9800 block of East 50 South in Knox.
3/16/16 – Officers from the Knox Police Department, Starke County Sheriff’s Office, North Judson Police, Hamlet Police, Indiana State Police and DNR Division of Law Enforcement assisted with the apprehension of a suspect in a stolen car who led officers on a high-speed chase west of Knox into the Kankakee State Fish and Wildlife Area. He was apprehended with the assistance of a Starke County Sheriff’s Office K-9.
3/17/16 – A resident in the 7100 block of West 250 South in North Judson reported someone intentionally set fire to his neighbor’s back field and threw sticks that had been burning up by her back door in an attempt to “smoke her out.”
3/17/16 – The Starke County Sheriff’s Office and Starke County EMS responded to an overdose in the 5900 block of South U Road West in North Judson. The victim was revived with Narcan, and two people were arrested.
3/17/16 – A resident in the 5300 block of South CR 210 in Knox reported his post light was stolen from the front of his property.
3/17/16 – Officers responded to a report of possible debris in the roadway on U.S. 30 west of State Road 23 in Grovertown after four vehicles reported flat tires.
3/18/16 – A vehicle versus deer crash was reported at the intersection of U.S. 35 and 500 South in Knox.
3/18/16 – The Starke County Sheriff’s Office and Indiana State Police were notified of a drug lab at the intersection of 250 South west of 100 West in North Judson.
3/18/16 – The owner of a property in the 2400 block of south 100 West in North Judson reported a recently evicted tenant stole several pieces of furniture.
3/18/16 – An employee at Hickory Hills Campground in Knox reported a break-in at a campsite.
3/18/16 – A resident in the 2100 block of South State Road 39 in North Judson reported being attacked by his wife while he was sleeping.
3/19/16 – A man cleaning up a property in the 8700 block of east 75 North in Knox reported finding an apparent meth lab in a container while cleaning up the property.
3/19/16 – A camper break-in was reported in the 5800 block of East Manor Drive in Knox.
3/19/16 – A resident in the 3200 block of East 400 South in North Judson reported being attacked by a pit bull on March 17th and was told by the Starke County Humane Society that the dog was not up to date on its vaccines.
3/19/16 – Knox Police advised the crossing arms and lights have been activated for an extended time at John and McGill Streets in Knox without a train present. Norfolk-Southern Railroad was contacted.
3/19/16 – Officers responded to a report of someone burning trash with a meth lab in the 8800 block of Jefferson Street in Monterey. Officers were unable to locate any evidence of burning materials, even with the use of thermal.
3/20/16 – A resident in the 11000 block of east 400 North in Grovertown reported an attempted break-in.
3/20/16 – Officers responded to Hickory Hills Campground in Knox for a report of a camper break-in. The owner advised there was some damage to the front sliding door area but no items were missing.
3/20/16 – The Koontz Lake Fire Department responded to a brush fire in the 11000 block of east 400 North in Grovertown.
3/20/16 – A resident in the 5400 block of South County Road 210 in Knox reported damage to his tiki hut across the street.
3/20/16 – A resident in the 11200 block of East Division Road in Knox reported vandalism to a vehicle.
3/20/16 – A residential break-in was reported in the 2200 block of East 400 South in Knox.
3/20/16 – Officers issued several citations for ATVs on the roadway at the intersection of 500 South and 260 West.
3/20/16 – The Starke County Sheriff’s Office, Starke County EMS and Hamlet Fire Department responded to a single-vehicle accident with injuries on U.S. 30 east of 300 East in the eastbound lane.
3/20/16 – A vehicle versus deer crash was reported at the intersection of State Road 10 and Range Road in North Judson.
3/20/16 – A resident in the 8000 block of N. Tecumseh Road in Koontz Lake was referred to the prosecutor’s office to obtain a no contact order against a neighbor due to ongoing harassment problems.
3/20/16 – Officers responded to an intimidation complaint in the 6000 block of south Range Road in Knox.

Arrests:

Inclusion in the arrest reports is merely a record an arrest was made and is not an indication of guilt. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

3/16/16 – Daniel J. Allen, 27, Winamac – Auto theft, resisting law enforcement – uses vehicle or draws or uses a deadly weapon, resisting law enforcement, reckless driving and criminal mischief.
3/17/16 – Kevin Dale Reading, 38, Knox – Criminal recklessness.
3/17/16 – Stephen Louis Lorencz, 38, San Pierre – Criminal recklessness.
3/19/16 – Ronald Ray Guy, 29, Knox – Operating a vehicle with a BAC of .08 or more, operating a vehicle while intoxicated endangering a person and operating a vehicle while intoxicated.

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Incidents:

3/21/16 – Damage was reported to a sign at the intersection of Range Road and 600 North. It appears someone fired shots at the sign.
3/21/16 – A resident in the 8800 block of east 150 North in Knox reported the discovery of a one-pot meth lab at the end of his driveway.
3/21/16 – A resident in the 6900 block of east 250 South in Knox reported another student threatened to rape his 15-year-old daughter. The parents were advised to contact the school system.
3/21/16 – A resident in the 3800 block of north 900 East in Grovertown reported a pit bull running loose in the area and advised chickens are being killed.
3/22/16 – The Starke County Sheriff’s Office, North Judson and San Pierre Fire Departments, Starke County EMS and North Judson Police all responded to a rollover accident involving a Kankakee Valley REMC truck on U.S. 421 south of the bridge.
3/22/16 – A caller driving eastbound on State Road 10 near the bike trail in North Judson reported people in a white Ford F-150 throwing trash out of the window and advised trash was also flying out of the back of the truck.
3/22/16 – A caller advised a man with long, dark hair wearing dark clothing was standing on 1200 East north of State Road 8 before Division Road jumping out at passing cars.
3/22/16 – A resident in the 6900 block of west 250 South in North Judson reported being harassed and was advised to file a protective order.
3/22/16 – A resident in the 5300 block of north 1200 East in Plymouth reported a stray dog on the property killing things. The animal was taken to the Starke County Humane Society.
3/22/16 – A resident in the 5800 block of south U Road West in North Judson reported problems with neighborhood kids and advised they just tore down a fence her husband recently put up.
3/23/16 – A resident in the 100 block of west 625 South in North Judson reported a shed was broken into and items were stolen.
3/23/16 – A resident in the 5800 block of south U Road East in North Judson advised the neighbor’s chickens are running loose and tearing up his yard, despite the neighbor’s promise to build a pen for them.
3/23/16 – The illegal dumping of two couches was reported at the Koontz Lake Fire Department recycle bin.
3/24/16 – The owner of a residence in the 7700 block of south 200 West in North Judson reported someone broke in and stole hundreds of rounds of ammunition from a gun safe.
3/24/16 – A property damage accident was reported in the 3000 block of west 800 South in North Judson. The caller advised a black Mustang hit a puddle of water, hydroplaned and went into a creek. No injuries were reported.
3/24/16 – A fraud or scam involving Publisher’s Clearinghouse was reported.
3/25/16 – The Washington Township Trustee reported the dumping of trash in the Eagle Creek Cemetery.
3/25/16 – A pole barn break-in was reported in the 7500 block of south U.S. 421 in San Pierre.
3/25/16 – A resident in the 7700 block of south 200 West in North Judson reported a storage bin and utility trailer were broken into.
3/25/16 – A seasonal resident in the 4700 block of Rannells East Road in Knox reported a suspicious van parked on the private easement blocking her access to the back of the residence.
3/25/16 – A resident in the 2600 block of West First Ave. in North Judson reported the dumping of miscellaneous debris on the property. The responding officer advised the owner to get a trail camera to possibly capture the suspects on video.
3/25/16 – A resident reported the dumping of household garbage along Range Road about one-half mile north of 900 South during the overnight hours.
3/25/16 – An underage drinking party was reported on 600 east south of State Road 8 in Knox. The Starke County Sheriff’s Office and Knox Police Department responded. Several arrests were made.
3/26/16 – A caller reported several cars parked along the access lane in the 200 block of south State Road 23 and advised a meth lab was recently cleaned up in that area.
3/27/16 – A resident in the 5500 block of south 100 East in Knox advised her medications were recently stolen.
3/27/16 – A resident in the 4200 block of south 800 West in San Pierre reported someone shooting guns for the past 20 or 30 minutes, said she went outside and found her dog dead.
3/27/16 – A vehicle versus semi property damage accident was reported on U.S. 30 at County Line Road.

Arrests:

Inclusion in the arrest reports is not an indication of guilt. It’s merely a record an arrest was made. All defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty.

3/25/16 – Larissa Ann Edmaiston, 19, North Liberty – Resisting law enforcement.
3/25/16 – Juvenile male, 17, No address given – Resisting law enforcement and illegal consumption of an alcoholic beverage.
3/25/16 – Peyton Christine Clemons, 18, Knox – Resisting law enforcement.
3/25/16 – Juvenile male, 15, No address given – Possession of marijuana and possession of paraphernalia.
3/25/16 – Jonathon Rowe, 19, No address given – Illegal consumption of an alcoholic beverage and resisting law enforcement.
3/25/16 – Juvenile female, 16, No address given – Illegal consumption of an alcoholic beverage and resisting law enforcement.
3/25/16 – Serena Anne Warren, 20, North Judson – Resisting law enforcement.
3/25/16 – Juvenile male, 16, No address given – Resisting law enforcement.
3/25/16 – Jacob Austin Neidlinger, 19, Walkerton – Possession of paraphernalia, resisting law enforcement and possession of marijuana.
3/25/16 – Juvenile female, 17, No address given – Illegal consumption of an alcoholic beverage and resisting law enforcement.
3/25/16 – Dalton Cole Miller, 19, Hamlet – Resisting law enforcement.
3/25/16 – Kyle Austin Seals, 18, Knox – Possession of marijuana and resisting law enforcement.
3/25/16 – Kayla Dawn Cangiano, 19, Knox – Resisting law enforcement.
3/25/16 – Juvenile female, 16, No address given – Resisting law enforcement.
3/25/16 – Juvenile male, 17, No address given – Resisting law enforcement.
3/25/16 – Hayleigh Allivia Sondgrass, 19, Walkerton – Resisting law enforcement.
3/25/16 – Tyler Shawn Middleborn, 20, Winamac – Illegal consumption of an alcoholic beverage and resisting law enforcement.
3/25/16 – Juvenile male, 17, no address given – Resisting law enforcement and illegal consumption of an alcoholic beverage.

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A Merrillville couple faces drug charges in Starke County following a multi-agency meth bust in Koontz Lake Monday evening. Deputies from the Starke County Sheriff’s Office responded to a complaint of drug activity at a Eureka Street residence around 5:15 p.m., according to a news release.

They were given written consent to search the residence, and K-9 Terror detected and found methamphetamine and paraphernalia. Officers also found several items used to make meth inside the home and a burnt one-pot meth lab and other manufacturing-related items in an outdoor burn barrel.

Sally Mills, 37, and Donald Mills III, 36, both of Merrillville, were arrested on preliminary charges of dealing methamphetamine, possession of precursors, possession of methamphetamine and possession of paraphernalia.

Several other people were arrested as well on visiting a common nuisance charges. They include: Virgil Binion, 50, Monterey; Alexis Houston, 25, Fort Wayne; William Redlin, 20, Walkerton; Carter Scutchfield, 39, Mishawaka; and Robert Gardner, 34, Walkerton. He’s also charged with possession of marijuana.

Officers from the Walkerton Police Department, Indiana State Police and the Indiana State Police Clandestine Lab Team assisted with the investigation.

Editor’s note: A previous version of the story listed Charlotte Binion, 49, Monterey as arrested for visiting a common nuisance. That is incorrect. She received medical attention but was not arrested Monday night, according to the Starke County Sheriff’s Office. WKVI News regrets the error and any confusion it may have caused.

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Several Grovertown and Koontz Lake area residents and businesses have reported receiving scam telephone calls from someone claiming to be a NIPSCO representative. The caller advises service will be disconnected unless immediate payment is made.

According to reports filed with the Starke County Sheriff’s Office, NIPSCO is not making the calls. At least one person realized this after agreeing to pay, while others hung up on the caller and verified the status of their account with NIPSSO. That’s when they learned the calls are phony.

Contact NIPSCO directly to verify the status of your account before agreeing to pay. The customer support team can be reached by calling 1-800-464-7726 or visiting www.nipsco.com.

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An investigation by the Knox Police Department into alleged drug activity results in five arrests. Officers executed a search warrant around 4:30 p.m. yesterday at a home in the 200 block of Clark Street in Knox, according to Knox Police Chief Harold Smith. He says they found illegal drugs, a large sum of money and a firearm inside the residence.

Jeffery Osborne, 49, and Wanda Shiel, 53, both of Knox, face charges of dealing a synthetic drug, possession of methamphetamine, possession of a synthetic drug and maintaining a common nuisance.

Misti Roberts, 34 of Doniphan, Mo., is charged with dealing a synthetic drug, possession of a synthetic drug and maintaining a common nuisance. Candice Moe, 24, and Crystal Howard, 31, both of Knox, are charged with possession of a synthetic drug and visiting a common nuisance.

Deputies and a K-9 from the Starke County Sheriff’s Office assisted the Knox Police Department with the search.

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A tip from another police department led to the Friday arrests of three people allegedly involved in manufacturing methamphetamine. Knox Police Chief Harold Smith says officers from his department and the Starke County Sheriff’s Office found a meth lab inside a residence in the 200 block of West Lake Street in Knox.

Officers got a tip from the Hamlet Police Department about possible drug activity. Earl Beem, 34, of Knox, faces charges of manufacturing methamphetamine and maintaining a common nuisance. Haley Marshall, 24, of Knox, is charged with possession of a narcotic drug, and 24-year-old Angela Summey of Knox faces charges manufacturing methamphetamine and possession of methamphetamine.

The case remains under investigation. The Knox Police Department was assisted by the Starke County Sheriff’s Department and the Indiana State Police.

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A month long drug investigation by the Hamlet Police Department resulted in an arrest. Officers executed a search warrant at 302 W. Davis Street on Friday, according Hamlet Police Chief Frank Lonigro. About an hour beforehand an officer saw several people leave in a vehicle. That information was shared with the Knox Police Department and led to three arrests.

The search of the Davis Street home by officers from the Hamlet Police Department and Starke County Sheriff’s Office reportedly home turned up methamphetamine, paraphernalia and a syringe. Melissa Howard, 33, is charged with possession of paraphernalia, possession of methamphetamine, maintaining a common nuisance and possession of a syringe.

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Washington Township officials are having troubles with illegal trash dumping.

Trustee Cathy Benko recently found 10 bags of trash stuffed into the cans at the cemetery. She says the barrels there are for cemetery use only. Before removing the bags, Benko notified the Starke County Sheriff’s Office. She says the deputy who responded went through them and found an address for the potential culprit.

The dumpsters at the Washington Township Community Building are not for public use, either. Benko says they are reserved for use by the fire department and individuals or groups who rent the community center. She adds anyone who is caught dumping their household or drug trash or any paraphernalia will be prosecuted.

Neither the township nor the county offer trash pickup service to rural residents. Benko says its up to each individual to make arrangements for private trash collection service.

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A Tuesday afternoon raid on a home in the 200 block of West Bender Street by Knox City Police and the Starke County Sheriff’s Office resulted in the arrest of 10 residents on various drug charges.

Knox Police Chief Harold Smith says investigators got several tips about possible drug use at the Tony and Deborah Clemons residence. They face charges of dealing in methamphetamine.

Officers also arrested 47-year-old William King, 50-year-old Linda King, 26-year-old Chad Osborne, 42-year-old Roberta Clemons, 24-year-old Tiffany Brewer, 36-year-old Jeannie Brewer,  19-year-old  Chyenne Wheeler and 21-year-old Sammie Marshall on various narcotics-related charges.

The Indiana State Police also assisted with the search warrant execution.

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A pair of months-long drug investigation by the Starke County Sheriff’s Office resulted in a total of five arrests, the discovery of crystal meth with a street value of more than $23,000 and a homemade bomb in Koontz Lake Thursday.

Officers from multiple agencies served warrants at two separate residences in the 7000 block of Frost Lane in Walkerton around 9 a.m. , according to news releases from the sheriff’s office. They reportedly found 234 grams of crystal meth, marijuana, paraphernalia, other unspecified drugs, ammunition and $400 in cash at a home occupied by 46-year-old Troy Bell and 31-year-old Natasha Bell, both of Walkerton. They face charges of dealing and possession of methamphetamine, possession of marijuana, possession of a Schedule 4 drug, possession of paraphernalia and maintaining a common nuisance. K-9 Terror assisted with that search.

While serving the second warrant, officers found a homemade bomb, methamphetamine, paraphernalia and precursors. Officers from the Porter County Sheriff’s Office Bomb Squad and Indiana State Police Clandestine Lab Team were called in to assist. Officers arrested 21-year-old Thomas McEndarfer and 24-year-old Hillary Robinson, both of Walkerton, on charges of dealing and possession of methamphetamine, possession of a destructive device, possession marijuana, paraphernalia and an illegal drug lab and maintaining a common nuisance. Corey Scott, 21, of Walkerton, was arrested for possession of methamphetamine and marijuana and maintaining a common nuisance.

The Knox, Hamlet and Indiana State Police assisted the Starke County Sheriff’s Office with the service of both warrants.

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An investigation by the Knox Police Department into reports of illegal drug activity culminated in the arrests of three Knox residents yesterday. City officers and members of the Starke County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at a residence in the 1200 block of East Culver Road, according to Police Chief Harold Smith. They found methamphetamine, syringes and other narcotics and narcotic-related paraphernalia, according to the incident report.

Teresa Scutchfield, 45, faces felony charges of possession of methamphetamine and maintaining a common nuisance, as well as a misdemeanor offense of possession of a legend drug. Sarah Scutchfied, 23, and Elijah Fugate, 25, both face felony charges of possession of methamphetamine, possession of a narcotic drug and maintaining a common nuisance along with a misdemeanor charge of possession of a Schedule III narcotic.

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A pair of Knox residents face numerous drug charges following a Friday morning search of a rural residence by the Starke County Sheriff’s Office and Knox City Police. They found methamphetamine, items used in its manufacture, marijuana, several firearms and drug paraphernalia at the home in the 1500 north block of 700 East, according to the incident report.

James Daniels, 47, and Crystal Williams, 31, face charges of dealing and possession of methamphetamine, possession of precursors, marijuana and a Schedule 2 controlled substance and maintaining a common nuisance.

Joseph Bihlmayer, 31, of Knox, faces possession of methamphetamine and maintaining a common nuisance charges.

K-9 Terror assisted in the property search, and the Indiana State Police Clandestine Lab Team dismantled the methamphetamine items.

Drug tips can be shared with the Starke County Sheriff’s Office at 574-772-3771, online at www.starkecountysheriff.com or via the department’s Facebook page.

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A Porter man faces a drug charge in Starke County following a Wednesday morning incident at the Grovertown Truck Stop. The Starke County Sheriff’s Office, Hamlet and Indiana State Police responded around 11 a.m. to a report of an intoxicated man injecting an unknown drug in the bathroom.

Hamlet Police arrested 36-year-old Walter Girton on preliminary charges of possession of heroin and possession of paraphernalia. He’s also wanted on a LaPorte County warrant.

Officers reportedly found syringes containing an unknown substance, a spoon with liquid and a lighter in the bathroom. Tests of the substance are pending.

Witnesses told the officers a second person fled the area before they arrived.

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The Starke County Sheriff’s Office can keep a better budgetary handle on overtime for sheriff’s deputies, investigators and correctional officers thanks to action this week by the county commissioners. They adopted an ordinance to modify their pay periods for the purpose of overtime to 48 hours instead of 40. County attorney Marty Lucas says federal law provides a partial overtime exemption for uniformed, plainclothes and corrections officers because of the way their hours are typically structured.

They work four, 12-hour days and are off for another 12 hours, which means overtime during one 14-day pay period, followed by another that is significantly less than that threshold. Lucas says federal law allows employees to work up to 171 hours prior to incurring overtime during an aggregate 28 day period.

The policy also specifies how time is paid out. Instead of paying time-and-a-half wages, they will earn 1.5 hours of compensatory time for each extra hour worked. Sheriff’s office employees will be able to take it when they earn a full comp day and give adequate notice to the sheriff.

The policy also allows the sheriff to set blackout dates for comp time based on scheduled vacations.

Lucas adds the change will not remove overtime, but will reduce it significantly. By paying it in comp time instead it will also allow the sheriff to better control his budget.

The new policy will take effect with the May 15 pay period after receiving unanimous approval from the Starke County Commissioners.

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A pair of Knox residents face drug charges following yesterday’s bust of a large marijuana growing operation in downtown Knox by officers from the Starke County Major Crimes Unit. They served a search warrant at a residence in the 500 block of south Pearl Street, according to a news release. They reportedly found more than 200 marijuana plants growing inside the home along with several pounds of processed marijuana. Officers also seized growing equipment with an estimated value of $15,000 and cash.

Timothy Miller, 24, of Knox, faces dealing and possession of marijuana and maintaining a common nuisance charges. Joshua Risner, 23, of Knox, faces charges of dealing and possession of marijuana and visiting a common nuisance.

Officers from the Starke County Sheriff’s Office and Knox Police Department were assisted by the Indiana State Police.

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A pair of Knox residents are facing drug charges following an investigation by the Starke County Major Crimes Unit.

Officers from the Knox Police Department and Starke County Sheriff’s Office executed a search warrant at a residence in the 200 block of west Delaware Street in Knox on Wednesday.

They arrested 42-year-old Jeffrey Jacobs and 40-year-old Cherie Tolson, both of Knox. He faces preliminary charges of two counts of possession of a narcotic drug and one illegal drug lab count. Tolson has preliminary charges of possession of a narcotic drug.

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A Friday afternoon traffic stop for a registration violation by deputies from the Starke County Sheriff’s Office led to the arrests of four Logansport men, three of whom face weapons charges.

Deputies pulled the vehicle over around 1:30 p.m. on U.S. 30 at the Starke/LaPorte County line, according to the incident report.

K-9 Terror indicated the presence of narcotics in the vehicle. A search turned up a small amount of marijuana and a handgun reported stolen in Chicago.

21-year-old Troy Mickle, 25-year-old Terrance Collier and 25-year-old Allen Moten, all of Logansport, all face possession of a firearm by a serious violent felon and possession of marijuana charges. A fourth occupant of the vehicle, 20-year-old Navar Rogers is charged with possession of marijuana.

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A Rochester man who was wanted on multiple Fulton County felony warrants is jailed in Starke County after a Friday night incident in Koontz Lake.

Deputies from the Starke County Sheriff’s Office got a tip around 9 p.m. that 47-year-old Eric Day was at a residence on Tonti Lane in Koontz Lake. While officers were en route to serve the arrest warrants, they got another call advising Day had beaten a woman at the Koontz Lake gas station and fled from the area.

The officers responded to the gas station, and two patrons indicated the direction of Day’s flight. K-9 Zardoz was deployed and found Day hiding in a pile of broken tree branches about 200 yards away. Day initially refused to come out, according to the report, but Zardoz helped get him out of his hiding place. Day was treated at Starke Hospital and released to the Starke County Jail.

He faces local charges of battery and resisting law enforcement in addition to the A Felony charges contained in the Fulton County warrants.

The Indiana State Police, Starke County EMS and Koontz Lake Fire Department assisted in his apprehension.

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A Mentone man was injured Tuesday afternoon when his motorcycle struck the rear of a car that turned in front of him. The crash happened on South Heaton Street just north of Advance Auto. Knox City Police, the Starke County Sheriff’s Office, Knox Fire Department First Responders and Starke County EMS responded.

According to witnesses, John Elam of Mentone was northbound on Heaton Street in the far right lane preparing to turn right onto Chicago Street. As he was turning, a silver PT Cruiser driven by a 17-year-old Knox boy turned right from the left lane into the path of Elam’s motorcycle.

The bike struck the car’s bumper. Elam was not wearing a helmet. His injuries were not believed to be life-threatening, and he was expected to be treated and released. Neither the driver of the car nor his passenger were injured.

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A North Judson man wanted on felony warrants from Illinois now faces charges in Starke County after a Wednesday night standoff with police.

A North Judson Police Officer spotted 30-year-old Ferdinand R. Sporea pull into the garage of a house on Range Road just south of State Road 10 around 5:15 p.m. The officer knew Sporea had outstanding warrants, according to the incident report.

Deputies from the Starke County Sheriff’s Office were in the area and went to the house. They say Sporea refused to answer the door after repeated attempts. They entered the house and discovered Sporea had barricaded himself in a bedroom and hid in the closet.

K-9 Zardoz was eventually sent into the bedroom, but officers say Sporea still refused to come out of the closet. The officers then entered, and Sporea and 24-year-old Emily J. Dutcher were helped from the closet by Zardoz.

Sporea was treated by medics before being booked into the Starke County Jail. In addition to the Illinois warrants, local charges of resisting law enforcement and battery of a police officer are pending.

Dutcher was taken to Starke Hospital for medical clearance before being booked into the jail. She had outstanding warrants in Marshall County and faces assisting a criminal, resisting law enforcement and failure to identify charges.

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