NAPPANEE - Victims and witnesses to a shooting in Nappanee early Saturday morning are hindering the investigation of the incident.
Around 1:55 a.m. Saturday, the Nappanee Police Department received a call about shots being fired and a person being injured at a residence at 1200 N. Main St., Apt. 507, Nappanee, North Side Manor Apartments.When officers were on their way to the apartment, they stopped a car leaving the scene and found one victim of the shooting, Jeffrey T. Reames, 46, Elkhart, in the car with family members who were taking him to the hospital with a gunshot wound to his chest.
After officers arrived at the apartment, they learned that several shots had been fired in both the front and rear of the building.
Later, police discovered a second victim of the shooting, Anthony R. Hirsch, 19, Goshen, who had a gunshot wound to his arm. He was taken to Elkhart General Hospital for treatment.
Officers were told that two men left the scene on foot, so the officers set up a perimeter and started a search using K-9s. One man was found hiding in a ditch bank, but he reportedly refused to comply with officers' requests and the K-9 officer was used to take the man into custody. Bobby J. Ragsdale, 21, Goshen, was arrested for failure to comply, and was taken to Elkhart General Hospital for treatment of dog bites from the K-9. After his treatment, Ragsdale was taken to the Nappanee Police Department for questioning.
Reames was taken to Elkhart General Hospital, where he underwent surgery for his injuries.
Hirsch was treated for a gunshot wound to his arm and released. He was then taken to the Nappanee Police Department for questioning about the incident.
According to the Nappanee Police Department, "the investigation of the incident is being hindered due to the lack of cooperation from the witnesses and victims, and at this time we have not been able to establish a motive."
The Nappanee Police Department was assisted by the Elkhart County Sheriff's Department, the Wakarusa Police Department, the Bremen Police Department and the Goshen Police Department. The Elkhart County Sheriff's Department and the Nappanee Police Department are working together to do the follow-up investigation.
Anyone with information about the incident should contact the Nappanee Police Department at 574-773-4111.
Three held in meth bust
WINONA LAKE - Three people were arrested Sunday night when a traffic stop led to meth charges.
Around midnight, Winona Lake police officer David Ruiz stopped a car for a traffic violation near the intersection of Center and Reed streets, Warsaw.
Ruiz recognized the car's driver as Jennifer Cole, 31, of 3847 N. CR 150W, Warsaw, and knew that she was wanted on an outstanding arrest warrant.
Then officer Joe Bumbaugh and his K-9 arrived at the scene and the K-9 indicated that there were possibly drugs in the car.
Cole and her passengers, Daniel Harrison Shepherd, 37, of 6756 E. Old 30, Pierceton, and Jonathan Michael Shepherd, 18, Lexington, Ky., were detained while the K-9 searched the car and found several precursors to manufacturing methamphetamine. A hydrochloric acid generator and methamphetamine also were discovered in the vehicle.
The Kosciusko County Drug Task Force and the Indiana State Police Clandestine Lab Team were called to the scene to secure the items and dismantle the the generator, which was found in a backpack in the trunk of the car.
Cole was arrested for possession of legends or precursors to manufacturing methamphetamine, manufacturing methamphetamine, possession of methamphetamine and on a warrant in a civil matter. She is being held without bond.
Daniel Shepherd was arrested for possession of legends or precursors and manufacturing meth. His bond was set at $10,000.
Jonathan Shepherd was charged with possession of meth, and his bond was set at $2,000.
The Winona Lake Police Department was assisted at the scene by the Kosciusko County Sheriff's Department, Warsaw Police Department, Kosciusko County Drug Task Force and the Indiana State Police.
'Sparkler Bomb' Found At Wal-Mart
A suspicious item found Sunday near the garden center at Wal-Mart, Walton Boulevard, Warsaw, turned out to be a "sparkler bomb."
According to the Warsaw Police Department, a Wal-Mart employee told an off-duty Kosciusko County Sheriff's Dept. deputy about a suspicious item in the store's parking lot, and then showed it to him. After seeing the device, he contacted the Warsaw Police Department.
Once Warsaw officers arrived at the scene, they called KCSD Deputy Craig Bale to bring his K-9, which is trained in finding explosives.
The K-9 detected an explosive compound in the device, and then Bale contacted the Fort Wayne Police Department's Hazardous Device Unit.
When the Fort Wayne unit arrived, equipment was used to pickup up the device and contain it. Then the officers preliminarily identified it as a sparkler bomb.
The sparkler bomb was taken for further investigation and disposal by the Fort Wayne Police Department's Hazardous Device Unit. A sparkler bomb is an explosive device made from sparklers.
The Warsaw Police Department continues to investigate and criminal charges can be filed if the manufacturer of the device is found. Part of the Wal-Mart parking lot and the garden center were closed off as a precaution during the incident.
Firework Explosion Being Investigated
NORTH MANCHESTER - North Manchester police and fire officials are investigating a reported explosion on the Manchester College campus Sunday.
Around 9:50 p.m. Sunday, police were called to Schwalm Hall on the college campus to investigate the incident.
Upon investigation of the incident, officials determined someone had lit a small firework shell.
Police have no suspects in the incident, but the investigation is ongoing.
Anyone with information regarding the incident should contact the North Manchester Police Department at 260-982-8555.
