Relevance Date

Alleged 'Meth' Lab Raided

ETNA GREEN - Continuing efforts to rid the community of a dangerous drug resulted in the seizure of another methamphetamine lab Thursday. Working with information received from the Multi-County Drug Task Force in Marshall County, the Kosciusko County Special Operations Team located the lab at a residence south of Etna Green. The home, at 2255 Ind.19N, was occupied by Bret A.Feldman, 27, who is charged with dealing in a controlled substance, a Class B felony; possession of two or more ingredients with the intent to manufacture methamphetamine, a Class D felony; and possession of marijuana, a Class A misdemeanor.He is being held in the Kosciusko County Jail on $10,000 bond. Also arrested at the residence was Kimberly Schaefer, 27, of Plymouth.She is charged with possession of marijuana, a Class A misdemeanor, and visiting a common nuisance, a Class B misdemeanor.She was released from the KCJ after posting $450 bond.
Ruth Anne Lipka, Times-Union Lifestyles Editor- | July 28, 2016

Five Suspects Jailed For Columbia City Bank Robbery

Names of the five males apprehended Friday night in Kosciusko County, after allegedly robbing a Columbia City bank, were released Monday afternoon by the Whitley County Prosecuting Attorney's office. The suspects are: Michael T.Carter, 23; Karleton J.James, 24; Deandra M.Armour, 25; Dontrell O.Moore, 21; and Anton J.Alexander, 25.The suspects are believed to be from Fort Wayne. Armour, Moore and Alexander are being held at the Whitley County jail while Carter and James are being held in the Huntington County Jail. Each has been charged by the Whitley County prosecutor's office with two counts of robbery and two counts of theft.Alexander also was charged with possessing a handgun without a license.Bonds for all five men were set at $100,000. Alexander was convicted in 1997 for possession of cocaine.James has two convictions for carrying a handgun without a license.Armour was convicted in 1997 of robbery and receiving stolen automobile parts.
DAVID SLONE, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

4-H Auction Checks Delayed

The 4-H kids who sold livestock at the July 5 auction haven't received their checks yet due to a number of reasons, according to county Extension office educators. The 4-H guidelines book indicates that checks were to be mailed July 22.Total auction sales were $183,685 this year for 442 lots. The fair booklet was published in February, and the livestock auction committee voted to give buyers 45 days to pay after the booklet was published. "We always had money to float the auction checks before," said 4-H Youth Leader Tracy George."This year we don't." Funds from a carry-over account would be used to cut the checks to the kids; the account was reimbursed when the auction money was paid. Last September the former Extension secretary, Betty Ann Davis, Claypool, was accused of embezzlement and, according to George, she allegedly took a substantial amount of money.
TERESA SMITH, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Teens Face Charges In String Of Break-Ins

A suspect who reportedly jumped out a window of a home and fled from police while a telephone search warrant was being processed was taken into custody a short time later with the aid of a police dog. Sabastian Jarski, 18, of 11226 N.E.Wawasee Drive, Syracuse, was booked into the Kosciusko County Jail at 1:30 p.m.Tuesday on charges of theft, resisting/fleeing law enforcement and theft/receiving stolen property.He is being held on $2,000 bond. Warsaw police were preparing to search a home in the 2700 block of Glad Street that belongs to Jarski's father when he allegedly jumped from a window of the home and fled. Police were led to the home after executing a search warrant at the home of Benjamin Keller, 16, of 713 E.Smith St., Warsaw.
Ruth Anne Lipka, Times-Union Lifestyles Editor- | July 28, 2016

Police Seek Suspect In Bank Robbery

PIERCETON - Police are seeking help from the community in determining the identity of a masked man who robbed the Pierceton branch of Lake City Bank while armed with an ax. The suspect apparently surprised the first employee at the bank when she arrived between 8:30 and 9 a.m.to begin opening for the day.Police would not comment on whether the man was in the bank or came in with the employee. Once inside, the suspect allegedly forced the employee to open a vault and to give up the keys to her personal vehicle.She was then forced into a closet and the suspect fled the scene in the employee's car with an undisclosed amount of cash. The suspect is described as about 5 feet, 8 inches tall.He was wearing a blue shirt and blue pants and had a ski mask covering his face.The man's age and race are not known; his clothing covered any skin that might otherwise be exposed, police said.
Ruth Anne Lipka, Times-Union Lifestyles Editor- | July 28, 2016

Mentone May Buy Sinclair Station

MENTONE - Larry Beeson, Mentone's town attorney, will look into acquiring the old Sinclair gas station on Ind.25 across from the Mentone Community Emergency Services Building for the town. If the town can acquire the property, which has back taxes allegedly owed on it, the town then will seek a grant to make the property into a parking lot. Jack Simpson, town council member, presented the idea to the other members Monday night.He said he wants to go for the grant, clean up the property and blacktop it. Beeson said when you take ownership of a property, you also take ownership of the environmental problems, too.Simpson said he was told the town would not be liable.He also said the Indiana Department of Environmental Management doesn't have the property listed as a gas station. "It has been," said Brian Reed, utilities superintendent.But at one point, it was probably listed in the wrong location.Reed said he didn't know if all the buried tanks were removed.
DAVID SLONE, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Etna Green Asked To Establish Police Dept.

ETNA GREEN - Dissatisfied with what she terms a "rent-a-cop" agreement, an Etna Green resident wants the town to establish its own police department. Kim Garey said at Tuesday's Etna Green Town Council meeting that she's concerned about the police protection in town, especially since she has been the victim of thefts and vandalism and knows that other thefts are occurring in town. Etna Green does not have a town marshal and contracts with the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department for police protection.Deputies from the KCSD sign up to work their off-duty hours patrolling Etna Green and are compensated at an hourly rate by the town.
Ruth Anne Lipka, Times-Union Lifestyles Editor- | July 28, 2016

Police Arrest Suspect In Wong's Armed Robbery

A Warsaw man has been charged in the Aug.3 robbery of Wong's Restaurant after he was arrested in an unrelated matter following a high speed chase Sunday evening. The Winona Lake Police Department initiated a chase Sunday after receiving a report of the theft of gas from a BP Station.The chase ended in a crash and Sean Lackey, 26, of 615 W.Center St., Warsaw, was arrested at 2:58 a.m.Sunday for fleeing/resisting law enforcement, refusal to submit to chemical testing, public intoxication and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.A juvenile in the car with Lackey was apprehended later and taken to the Winona Lake Police Department. During the course of the investigation of the Sunday morning incident, information led officers to call detectives working on the Wong's robbery case. Detectives then obtained more information that led to the recovery of the briefcase stolen from Wong's last week.
JEN GIBSON, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Sidney Hears Vandalism Complaints

SIDNEY -ÊThe Sidney Town Board recently heard concerns from residents about a rash of vandalism and thefts in the town. Residents voiced concern about vandalism to residences and businesses.Several incidents of break-ins to cars and the theft of gas were reported. Troubles with juveniles on mini-bikes, go-carts and four-wheelers in town also were discussed. Further action on the incidents will be taken by the Sidney Town Board in the near future.
Staff Report- | July 28, 2016

Webster Studies Storm Drain Upgrades

NORTH WEBSTER - For a little under $10,000, town storm drains can be fitted with filters to prevent sediment and/or chemicals from entering Webster Lake. A good maintenance program would help the situation, too, according to JF New & Associates representative Cornelia Sawatzky. Sawatzky presented the results of a feasibility study to the town council and citizens Wednesday.The study was sponsored by the Tippecanoe Environmental Lake and Watershed Foundation and paid for with a Lake and River Enhancement Grant from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources. On the east side of Ind.13, 18 drain networks to the lake were identified within the town's boundaries.Almost all of the storm drains were completely full of contaminants - sand, dirt, yard clippings, trash, etc. Drain systems on the west side are directed toward Kuhn Ditch.
TERESA SMITH, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

3 Arrested In Webster Break-Ins

One adult is in jail and two juveniles are under house arrest as suspects in a string of break-ins in North Webster last week. According to the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Office, Brock Alan McNeeley Hawthorn, 18, of Barbee Lake, is in Kosciusko County Jail charged with burglary and theft.Two juveniles, Sterling Templeton, 16, Barbee Lakes, and Chris Brinegar, 16, North Webster, were arrested and released to their parents.They are under house arrest via electronic monitoring until their cases are decided. North Webster Town Marshal Jerry Craig said at least five businesses in North Webster were broken into and ransacked in the early morning hours of Aug.1.Mostly money and liquor were stolen. Hawthorn's footprints reportedly matched those at a crime scene, and glass fragments in his shoe were consistent with the scene, Craig said.His fingerprints were later found at the crime scene.
Staff Report- | July 28, 2016

Juveniles Arrested After Auto Thefts

Three juveniles have been implicated in at least 16 cases of auto theft throughout Kosciusko County after the Warsaw Police Department responded to a call early Friday morning. Seven of the auto theft cases were filed in Warsaw and nine more cases were filed with the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department. WPD officers responded to a citizen's complaint regarding a break-in to a motor vehicle near Taylor Street, Warsaw, at 5 a.m.Friday.When officers arrived at the scene, the suspect's vehicle fled.After a short pursuit, the fleeing vehicle, which was later determined to be stolen, wrecked in a beanfield on CR 300N in Warsaw. Two suspects fled the wrecked vehicle on foot, but were later apprehended by police and the police K-9 unit.
JEN GIBSON, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Police Probe Theft, Vandalism At ERI

Police are investigating vandalism and the theft of tools from a Warsaw business. An employee of ERI Housing, Ind.15N, contacted the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department shortly before 7 a.m.Wednesday to report the incident. Eight vehicles parked on the lot sustained damage, mostly broken windows, and a large quantity of tools was taken from at least three of the company's trucks.An employee's personal vehicle parked at the business had firefighter gear, tools and several cassettes taken from it. ERI officials believe more items will be discovered missing when an inventory of the vehicles is completed. A hammer found at the scene was believed used to break the vehicle windows. Anyone with information about this incident is asked to call the KCSD at 267-5667.
Staff Report- | July 28, 2016

Injury Leads To Arrest Of Teens

Three Warsaw teens face charges in connection with a burglary July 2 and the accidental shooting of one of the suspects. Tony Miller, a juvenile from Warsaw, told police he was robbed and shot in the leg by a Hispanic man in Warsaw in the late hours of July 2.But, investigating officers said they were suspicious of Miller's story because of the type of bullet wound he suffered. A Warsaw police officer investigating the burglary of Miller's grandmother's house reported a small-caliber handgun was stolen from the home and questioned Miller about the incident. According to police reports, Miller allegedly began to cry and admitted he accidentally shot himself in the leg with the gun taken from his grandmother's house on Union Street, Warsaw, earlier in the day.
TIFFANY SHAW, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Manchester Teen Arrested For Rape

A North Manchester man was arrested Wednesday afternoon for rape, burglary to a residence and theft from a business. Joshua W.Powers, 18, of 12466 S.CR 600E, North Manchester, was arrested after the investigation of the rape of a 15-year-old girl was reported last week. The crimes reportedly took place in Kosciusko County. Powers originally said he did not know the girl was 15 but after further investigation, Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department officials determined that he had prior knowledge of the girl's age and planned the act. During the investigation, officers determined that Powers also was responsible for a break-in and theft at Slater's Fruit Market in Sidney.The incidents are not believed to be related. The sheriff's department is investigating the incidents.Information has been forwarded to the Kosciusko County Prosecutor's Office, and charges are expected. Powers is being held on $10,000 bond.
JEN GIBSON, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Charges Filed In Robbery At Pharmacy

Charges have been filed in Kosciusko Superior Court I against the woman accused of robbing Horizon Pharmacy in downtown Warsaw. Cheryl Ann Lang, 39, of 412 N.Columbia St., Warsaw, is charged with robbery with force and attempted theft, both Class C felonies.A warrant was issued, but Lang has not yet been arrested. At the time Lang was apprehended in the former Brennan's Pharmacy on Market Street, officials decided not to arrest her because of ongoing medical problems.The warrant will be served when Lang's health has improved. Lang is believed to have robbed the business on Memorial Day and was caught inside the store during an attempted robbery a week later.She was wearing a trash bag over her clothing and acted as if she had a gun underneath it.She had a nylon stocking over her face when she came in and demanded drugs.
Staff Report- | July 28, 2016

Sex Offender Registry Offers Updated Info

Anyone who would like to know if a sex offender is living in their neighborhood has a useful tool as close as their fingertips - or at least the nearest computer. By visiting www.indianasheriffs.org, those who are interested can find out if there is a registered offender in their area with just a few clicks of the mouse, thanks to Zachary's Law, which took effect just more than two years ago. Zachary's Law was named for 10-year-old Zachary Snider of Cloverdale.He was murdered by a convicted child molester in 1993.The law took effect Jan.1, 2003. "The Sheriff's Association took over and helps administer (the Web site) for the state," said Charlene Johnson of the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department."Each county has its own Web page.People can look up (offenders) by name or by county/location." The law requires sheriff's departments throughout Indiana to create and maintain a sex offender registry, but many people are not aware that the registry exists.
JEN GIBSON, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Plea Entered In Etna Green Bank Robbery

A Leesburg man submitted a plea agreement in Kosciusko Circuit Court Friday, admitting his role in an April bank robbery. Rocky L.Lozano, 23, of 4669 E.Armstrong Road, Leesburg, submitted the plea agreement and could spend up to 20 years in prison for one felony count of armed robbery.In the deal, Lozano admits his part in the April 25 robbery of the Etna Green branch of National City Bank. If the agreement is approved by Judge Rex Reed, the prosecutor will not file habitual offender charges against Lozano, who has at least four previous offenses on his record, including burglary and theft. Lozano will be sentenced July 13. Three other people face charges related to the April robbery.Michael Angel Islas Jr., 21, of 947 E.Sheridan St., Warsaw; Logan Alan Greene, 26, of 1623 E.Main St., Warsaw; and Ashley Ann King, 21, of 1835 Sharon St., Warsaw, each were arrested shortly after the robbery occurred April 25.
JEN GIBSON, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Zale Pharmacy Target Of Robber; Methadone Stolen

Employees of Zale Pharmacy, East Center Street, Warsaw, reported the theft of 400-600 methodone pills after a man entered the store, holding a tire iron and demanding the drugs.The theft occurred about 2 p.m.Saturday when no customers were inside the store. The man, described as being between 5 feet 8 inches and 5 feet 10 inches, reportedly has dark hair and is believed to be in his late teens or early 20s.His face was covered by a blue T-shirt that read, "One tequila, two tequila, three tequila, four."Police recovered the shirt and tire iron at the scene. The suspect reportedly fled the scene in a red car of unknown make and model. According to Detective Scott Whitaker, Warsaw Police Department, methodone is one of several prescription drugs sought by drug abusers.
KRISTA PRIMROSE, Times-Union Staff Writer- | July 28, 2016

Teen Injured In Boating Accident On Wawasee

SYRACUSE - A Texas teen-ager suffered a broken leg in a tubing accident Friday on Lake Wawasee and, in another incident, officials are looking for the driver of a personal watercraft involved in a hit-and-run accident. According to a Department of Natural Resources report, Ian Lenz, 13, of Flowermount, Texas, was tubing with his brother about 5:30 p.m.Friday when the tubes came together and Lenz hit the water, breaking his leg. Lenz was treated at Goshen General Hospital. No injuries were reported in a 7 p.m.accident on Lake Wawasee when a personal watercraft struck a deck boat anchored at the sandbar. After the crash, the driver of the personal watercrart fled the scene and his identity is not yet known. Damage was reported to a vessel owned by Tom M.Kimbrough, Fort Wayne.
Staff Report- | July 28, 2016
Previous Next