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May 2010
Nature of Incident:
Operating while
Intoxicated – Boating.
Date and Time:
Sunday May, 30, 2010 at approximately 2:45 am.
Location: Round
Lake in Keeler Township.
Incident No: 3728-10
Boat Operator-Suspect:
25 year old male
from Burr Ridge, IL
(Name to be released
after arraignment)
Passengers:
9 additional passengers on the vessel.
Vehicle Information: 2006
Inboard Pleasure boat.
Information:
Sheriff Dale R.
Gribler reports that while the Van Buren County Sheriff’s Marine
Division was on patrol on Round Lake in Keeler Township, Marine
Deputies made contact with the boat operator while he was
operating a pleasure boat with nine additional passengers in
the early morning hours on Round Lake. Marine Deputies found the
boat operator to be under the influence of alcohol. The boat and
passengers were safely taken to their dock.
The boat operator was subsequently arrested for
Operating While Intoxicated and lodged at the Van Buren County
Jail pending arraignment. The investigation has been turned over
to the Van Buren County Prosecutor’s Office.
Investigating
Deputies:
Sgt. Chad Jahr
email and Marine Deputy Jason Fisk.
Supervisor
Contact:
On Duty Sergeant (269) 657-3101
Incident No: 3722-10
Nature of Incident:
Operating while Intoxicated – Boating.
Date and Time: Saturday
May, 29, 2010 at approximately 11:00 pm
Location: Magician
Lake in Keeler Township
Boat Operator-Suspect:
63 year old male from Granger, IN
(Name to
be released after arraignment)
Datamaster:
.09 Blood
Alcohol Content.
Passengers: There were 2
additional passengers on the vessel.
Vehicle Information: 1997
Inboard Pleasure boat.
Information:
Sheriff Dale R.
Gribler reports that Van Buren County Sheriff’s Marine
Division was on patrol on Magician Lake in Keeler Township, on
Saturday May 29th, 2010 at approximately 11:00 pm. Marine
Deputies made contact with the boat operator while he was
operating a pleasure boat with two additional passengers in
the late evening hours on Magician Lake. Marine Deputies
found the boat operator to be under the influence of alcohol.
The
boat operator was subsequently arrested for Operating While
Intoxicated and lodged at the Van Buren County Jail pending
arraignment. The boat and passengers were safely taken to their
dock.
The investigation has been turned over to the Van Buren
County Prosecutor’s Office.
Investigating Deputies:
Marine Deputies
Greg Straka Jr., Nathan Penning, and Uniform Response
Deputy James Charon.
Supervisor Contact: On Duty Sergeant
(269) 657-3101
Submitted by: Sergeant Chad
Jahr, Van Buren County
Sheriff’s Office, Marine Division
(269) 657-3101 Ext. 3995,
email.
Incident #:
2964-10
Date and time:
May 1, 2010 at 2234 hrs
Incident Type:
Residential Fire.
Incident Location:
84000 block of 2nd Street in Keeler Township.
Home Owner: Leon
Billings, 74 year old.
Information:
Sheriff Dale R. Gribler reports that deputies responded to a report of a
kitchen fire at this location.
When deputies arrived, they observed flames
coming from the kitchen area of the residence that were visible from the
roadway. Deputies ensured that everyone was out of the residence and, using
the fire extinguisher from their patrol vehicle, managed to put the out the
fire.
Fire
personnel
checked the house,
ventilating the residence and ensuring that there were no other hotspots or
secondary fires in the kitchen.
There was moderate smoke and fire damage to
the kitchen area of the residence, and severe fire damage to several
appliances.
No one was injured in this incident.
Responding Deputy:
Deputy Raymond W. Hochsprung.
Responding Fire Dept:
Keeler Twp Fire Dept.
Assisting Fire and EMS:
Sister Lakes Fire-EMS, Coloma EMS
Contact
Information:
The
on duty Sergeant at 269-657-3101, or Lt. William Lux at 269-657-2006,
email.
Apr 2010
Incident Number:
2453-10
Incident
Type:
Resisting and Obstructing a Officer, DWLS II, Warrant Arrest
Incident Location:
Timmons Rd near Wolf St. in Keeler Township
Date and Time:
April 13,
2010 at 2000 hours
Suspect Information:
John Edward Vaughn, DOB 04-26-85
Injuries:
John Vaughn was not injured in this incident.
Information:
Sheriff Dale Gribler reports that a Van Buren County Deputy pulled over a
vehicle for several traffic violations on Timmons
Road in Sister Lakes.
The vehicle pulled into a residence at which time the
driver exited and started to run. The Deputy chased after the driver and told
him to stop multiple times. The suspect refused to stop and the Deputy had to
use his taser. The suspect who was identified as John Edward Vaughn was
brought into custody after he was tasered. Officers asked him why he ran from
the scene and John Vaughn stated because he did not have a license and also
because he had a warrant.
Officers found that John Vaughn had two warrants for
his arrest, one for Child Support and one for Marijuana out of Cass County.
John Vaughn was lodged at the Van Buren County Jail for
Resisting a Officer and Driving on a Suspended License.
Assisting Agencies:
Hartford Police
Department assisted in this incident.
Investigating Officer:
Deputy Casey
Davis
Supervisor Contact:
Sergeant
Scott Schmitt (269) 657-3101 ext. 801,
email.
Mar 2010
Incident No:
1735-10.
Incident Type:
Car
versus Child-Pedestrian Personal Injury Accident.
Date and Time:
Tuesday, March 16, 2010 at approximately 5:45 pm.
Location:
80th
Avenue west of CR 687, Keeler Township.
Driver Information:
Cory Merfield, 17 years old, Hartford Resident.
Vehicle Information:
98
Saturn, Green .
Child-Pedestrian Information:
Sarah Curl, 9 years old, Hartford.
Information:
Sheriff Dale R Gribler reports that on Tuesday March
16, 2010, at approximately 5:45 pm, Sheriff Deputies were dispatched to 80th
Avenue west of County Road 687, Keeler Township for a 911 call reporting a
car-pedestrian accident.
Investigation determined that a passenger van being
operated by David Curl had stopped on 80th Avenue in front of his residence to
allow his 9 year old daughter, Sarah, to get out of the van and retrieve the
mail from their mailbox. After Sarah retrieved the mail, the child ran in front
of the stopped van and proceeded to run across the westbound lane of 80th
Avenue. A 1998 Saturn, being operated by Cory Merfield, was passing the stopped
van in the roadway. As Merfield proceeded to pass, the child ran in front of
Merfield’s vehicle. Merfield was unable to avoid striking the child. The child
was struck and then thrown onto the roadway.
Sarah Curl was transported initially to Watervliet ER
and then airlifted by AirCare to Bronson hospital where she is listed in
Critical Condition.
The accident is still being investigated by Deputies.
Assisting Agencies:
Assisting Deputies at the scene were the Hartford
Police Department and Keeler Fire Department.
Investigating Officers:
Sergeant Scott Schmitt (269) 657-3101 ext. 801,
Deputy Casey Davis (269) 657-3101 ext. 835.
Supervisor Contact:
Sergeant Scott Schmitt
email or
Operations Lieutenant William Lux
email
Feb 2010
Jan 2010
Dec 2009
Incident#:
9479-09
Incident Type:
Personal Injury Crash Resulting in a OWI 2nd, OWI Occupant under 16/Child
Endangerment, and Possession of Marijuana Arrest.
Date/Time:
December 9, 2009 at 1603 hrs.
Location:
60000 Block of CR 687
East in Keeler Township.
Vehicle #1: Blue
2000 Ford Taurus.
Driver of Vehicle #1 / Suspect:
27 year old female out of the Sister Lakes Area. Uninjured, name withheld
pending arraignment.
Charges:
Arrested and Lodged at the Van Buren County Jail on the charges of:
OWI 2nd, OWI Occupant under 16, Child
Endangerment, and Possession of Marijuana.
Passenger of Vehicle #1: 4
year old male out of the Sister Lakes Area. Uninjured, Picked up by a relative.
Vehicle #2:
Black 1999 Saturn 2-Door.
Driver of Vehicle #2:
22 year old female out of the Keeler area. Uninjured.
Passenger 1 Vehicle #2:
44 year old female out of the Keeler area.
Injuries to Passenger 1
Vehicle #2:
Complaints of pain due to multiple minor injuries from the crash, Treated on
scene by KTQR-SLEMS, Transported to Borgess Lee Memorial by SLEMS.
Passenger 2 Vehicle #2:
24 year old male out of the Keeler area.
Injuries to Passenger 2
Vehicle #2:
Complaints of pain due to multiple minor injuries from the crash, Treated on
scene by KTQR-SLEMS, Transported to Borgess Lee Memorial by SLEMS.
Passenger 3 Vehicle #2:
2 year old male out of the Keeler Area.
Injuries to Passenger 3
Vehicle #2:
Minor facial injuries, Treated on scene by KTQR-SLEMS.
Passenger 4 Vehicle #2:
2year old female out of the Keeler Area.
Injuries to Passenger 4 Vehicle
#2: Minor
facial injuries, Treated on scene by KTQR-SLEMS.
Alcohol/Drugs:
Alcohol and possibly
Marijuana use were factors in this crash.
Drug Paraphernalia Seized:
A marijuana pipe containing .8 grams of suspected burnt marijuana and marijuana
resin.
Information:
Sheriff
Dale R. Gribler reports that deputies were dispatched to a crash involving
injured parties, some of which were children, in the 60000 block of CR687E.
Deputies arrived on scene and investigated the crash,
and interviewed parties on scene. Through the Deputies investigation, it was
determined that vehicle #1 had been traveling too fast for the weather and road
conditions, and lost control after turning north on 60th St/CR687 from CR687E.
After losing control, vehicle #1 then spun around into the opposite lane
striking vehicle #2. The driver of vehicle #1 was found to be operating while
intoxicated. The driver of vehicle #1 had her 4 year old son in the vehicle
with her.
Deputies also found narcotics paraphernalia on her
person when she was being searched by a female correctional officer at the
jail. Driver #1 also admitted to using marijuana prior to this incident.
Driver #1 was lodged at the VBC jail for these charges, and a report has been
turned over to the Van Buren Prosecutor's Office.
An additional report is also being submitted to Child
Protective Services due to the nature of this incident and offenses.
Investigating Deputy:
Deputy Raymond W.
Hochsprung VBCSO., assisted by Sgt. David Walker VBCSO.
Assisting Agencies:
Keeler
Twp Fire Dept/Quick Response and Sister Lakes Fire Dept/EMS.
Wrecker Service:
Both drivers requested True's wrecker
service out of Dowagiac, MI.
Supervisor Contact:
Duty Sergeant at (269) 657-3101, or
Operations Lt. William V. Lux at (269) 657-2006
email
Incident #:
9272-09
Incident
Type:
Possession of Marijuana
with Intent to Deliver.
Date & Time of Incident:
December
1, 2009 at 1:16 a.m.
Location of Incident:
95th
Ave west of M-152, Keeler Twp (Sister Lakes Area).
Suspect Information:
48
year old female from Dowagiac.
Vehicle: 2010 Pontiac G-6 four
door.
Narrative:
Sheriff
Dale R. Gribler reports that Deputies arrested a female after locating a large
amount of marijuana in her vehicle.
Deputies were on patrol on County Road 690 near 95th
Ave where they first observed the vehicle. After witnessing several traffic
violations Deputies stopped the vehicle. While speaking with the driver
Deputies noticed a strong odor of marijuana and observed a small bag of
marijuana near the driver’s leg. The driver attempted to conceal the marijuana
and was then removed from the vehicle.
After searching the vehicle, Deputies located several duffle bags in the
backseat containing a large amount of marijuana. Deputies also located
marijuana packaged for sale and several items consistent with the sale of
marijuana. A total of 1.75 lbs of marijuana was seized from the vehicle.
The driver was found to have prior convictions for Possession of Marijuana
and Delivery/Manufacturing a Controlled Substance. The female was arrested and
lodged at the Van Buren County Jail for Possession of Marijuana with Intent to
Deliver.
Name being withheld until after arraignment.
Investigating
Officer:
Dep. Casey Davis,
Dep Travis Bernatche, Sergeant Scott Schmitt.
Contact Person:
Sergeant
Scott Schmitt
email or Lt. William Lux at 269-657-3101
email.
Nov 2009
Incident#:
8828-09
Incident Type:
Traffic
Stop resulting in Possession of Marijuana, Minor in Possession of Tobacco, DWLS,
and Warrant Arrest.
Date-Time:
November
11, 2009 at 1810hrs.
Location:
83000 Block CR687 Keeler Twp.
Driver:
Jose Carlos Yanez, 18 year old male,
Hartford area.
Suspect Vehicle: 2001 Silver
Chevrolet Impala.
Driver's Charges:
Arrested and Cited for DWLS and
Speeding 65/55. Arrested and Lodged at the VBC Jail for a Warrant out of
VBC Juvenile Court for Contempt of Court with a $1500 Cash bond.
Passenger:
15 year old male, Hartford area, on
Juvenile Court Probation.
Passenger's
Charges:
Arrested and Cited for Possession of Marijuana
and Minor in Possession of Tobacco. Subject released into his Mother's
custody.
Amount-Type of Drugs Seized:
6.9 grams of Marijuana.
Information: Sheriff Dale R.
Gribler reports that a deputy, while patrolling in the 82000 block of CR687,
observed a vehicle traveling at a high rate of speed. The deputy clocked on
radar the vehicles speed at 65mph in a 55mph zone, to which the vehicle was
subsequently stopped for the same.
The driver was found not to have a license on him at
the time of the stop. Further investigation discovered his driving privileges
suspended in the State of MI and a warrant for his arrest.
Upon checking the vehicles interior it was discovered
that the 15 year old male, who was the front seat passenger, did have tobacco in
his possession, which is a violation of state law.
A further check of this vehicle interior, deputies
discovered a bag containing 6.9grams of suspected marijuana. The 15 year old
male admitted that it was his marijuana, and that he had attempted to hide it
next to his seat when stopped by officers.
The other 3 passengers were not charged and received
rides home from family members. The 15 year old male passenger was released into
his mother's custody.
The driver received citations for DWLS and Speeding,
and was lodged at the VBC Jail on the warrant.
Investigating
Deputy: Deputy Raymond W.
Hochsprung VBCSO.
Assisting
Officer:
Officer Troy Wright of the Hartford Police
Dept.
Supervisor
Contact:
Please contact the on duty Sergeant at (269) 657-3101 or Operations Lt. William
V. Lux at (269) 657-2006 or by
email.
Oct 2009
Incident #
8248-09.
Incident Type:
Personal Injury Crash.
Date and Time of Incident:
October 24, 2009 at 0115 hrs.
Location of Incident:
CR 687 and 60th
Street, Keeler Township.
Vehicle #1:
1997 Chrysler Sebring.
Victim/Driver #1:
Daniel Martinez 22 year old out of Dowagiac.
Injuries:
Multiple injuries, most serious, Head injuries, in critical condition.
Hospital:
Lee Memorial, transferred to Bronson in Kalamazoo.
Passengers:
Gasca, Joe Louis, 23 years old, from Dowagiac.
Injuries:
Multiple.
Hospital:
Lee Memorial.
Seat Belt Usage:
No seat belts used.
Alcohol:
Yes Narrative:
Sheriff Dale
R. Gribler reports that a personal injury crash occurred at CR 687 and 60th
Street in Keeler Township.
The Van Buren County Sheriff's Office received a report
from Lee Memorial Hospital in Dowagiac that two people were brought into the
Hospital by private vehicle from a car crash that occurred in Van Buren
County's Keeler Township. Lee memorial further advised that the driver was in
critical condition and the passenger had serious injuries. The crash was
reported to have occurred at CR 687 and 60th street.
Deputies responded to the scene and located an older
model Chrysler Sebring at the Southwest corner of the intersection with
extensive damage to the passenger side of the vehicle behind the passenger
door. Deputies determined that the vehicle was eastbound on CR 687 and failed
to negotiate a turn to the North (left) for unknown reasons. The driver lost
control, slid sideways impacting with a utility pole on the passenger side. An
acquaintance of the vehicles occupants came along and transported them to Lee
Memorial Hospital. Statements of the passenger and evidence at the scene
indicated alcohol was a factor.
The crash remains under investigation.
Assisting Agencies:
Decatur
Police Department.
Investigating Officer: Deputy Tim Wydick
Supervisor: Sergeant Wayne Polomcak
email
Incident #: 7999-09
Date-Time:
October 15, 2009 at 1715hrs.
Location: 61000blk CR-352,
Keeler Twp.
Weather-Road Conditions:
Cloudy with rain, and wet roadway.
Incident Type: One Car
Personal Injury Rollover Crash.
Vehicle Involved: Red 2000
Dodge Neon, severely damaged. Towed from scene by True's wrecker.
Driver: 16 year
old male from the
Keeler area.
Injuries to Driver: Minor
abrasions and lacerations to legs and arms.
Passenger: Mayra Rodriguez,
17 year old female, from the Hartford area.
Injuries to Passenger: Minor
abrasions and lacerations to legs and arms.
Seat Belts:
Both Driver and Occupant were wearing seatbelts.
Medical Attention to
Occupants: Both occupants were treated
at the scene by Keeler Twp Quick Response and Sister Lakes EMS. Sister Lakes
EMS transported both occupants to Watervliet Community Hospital ER for further
treatment.
Alcohol-Drugs:
Were not a factor in this crash.
Citations-Arrest: Driver was
cited and released for the misdemeanor charge of Operating while Unlicensed,
and also cited for Too Fast for Conditions.
Information: Sheriff Dale R. Gribler
reports that deputies were dispatched to the 61000blk of CR-352 for a 1-car
rollover Personal Injury crash with minor injuries. Through an investigation
on scene and according to witnesses, Deputies determined that the vehicle was
traveling east bound on CR-352 when it lost control due to the wet roadway. The
vehicle went off the roadway and rolled over in a corn field. The occupants
were able to climb out of the vehicle without extrication.
Investigating Deputy: Deputy
Raymond W. Hochsprung, VBCSO.
Assisting Agencies: Keeler Twp Fire Dept., Keeler Twp Quick Response, Sister Lakes
EMS.
Supervisor Contact: Please
contact the on duty Sgt. at 657-3101 or Operations Lt., Lt. William Lux at
657-2006 email
Sep 2009
Aug 2009
INCIDENT #:
6305-09
Update on August 17, 2009
Arraigned was a Nathain Olin Petersen, white male, 5/23/1976 out of
Dowagiac. He was charged with Home Invasion first degree and Resisting and
Obstructing. He was arraigned in Paw Paw 7th District Court by Judge Robert
T. Hentchel and given a $10,000 bond.
INCIDENT #:
6305-09
Date and Time: August
17, 2009 at 11:01 a.m..
LOCATION:
60000 block of W Oak Dr, Keeler Lake Area of Keeler Twp.
INCIDENT TYPE:
Home Invasion/Resisting and Obstructing
SUSPECT:
33 year old male out of Dowagiac. Name withheld pending arraignment.
SUSPECT VEHICLE:
Red 1997 Pontiac Grand AM registered to suspect
Hospital: Dowagiac Lee
Memorial
Injuries: Stab
wounds to the neck, treated and released
VICTIMS:
62 year
wife
and 65 year old
husband,
out of the Decatur, both requested their
names not be released. The 62 year old female was home when this occurred.
INFORMATION:
Sheriff Dale R. Gribler reports that deputies were dispatched to a Home
Invasion in progress. VBC Central Dispatch advised that the victim had fled
to a neighbor's residence, as the suspect was breaking in her front door.
The first deputy on scene discovered the glass panel
forced out the front door, while
observing the front of the residence, the suspect came to the front door and
threw down a pair of gloves. The suspect ignored the deputy’s commands to
come out, and went back into the living room of the residence to watch TV. As
other deputies and officers began to arrive and establish a perimeter,
attempts to order the suspect out over the PA system of a patrol vehicle were
unsuccessful. Deputies and officers continued to observe the suspect walking
around in the residence, but always returning to the living room (which was
visible through the front door) in a seated position in front of the TV. The
decision was made by command staff on scene to make entry to the residence to
apprehend the suspect, who was still located in the living room couch.
As the deputies entered the residence, the
suspect began stabbing himself in the right side of the neck with a kitchen
knife. Deputies immediately deployed a Taser to stop the suspect from
stabbing himself, striking the suspect in his right side causing him to drop
the knife. The suspect then began pulling the Taser probes out with his right
hand, as deputies and assisting officers then encircled the suspect. It was,
at this time, that one of the deputies saw another small knife hidden in the
suspect’s left hand
and
the
Taser was deployed a second time striking the suspect causing him to drop the
second knife and fall off the couch and onto the floor. The knives were both
secured as the Taser was still activated, and then the suspect was taken into
custody without further incident.
The suspect was found to have stab wounds on both sides
of his neck indicating he had injured himself before officers entered the
residence as well. Upon investigating the scene, two other pocket knives
belonging to the suspect were located in the kitchen of the residence. There
were large amounts of blood in the living room and kitchen of the residence
and on the couch the suspect was sitting on. The house was also ransacked by
the suspect and a safe was dragged to the front door from one of the
bedrooms. The suspect would not give his name to law enforcement or EMS
personnel, and was identified by mental health workers at Lee Memorial
Hospital who were familiar with him. The suspect's vehicle was located in an
apple orchard nearby with the plate covered by duct tape. The suspect was
lodged at the Van Buren County Jail on the charges of Home Invasion and
Resisting/Obstructing after treatment for his injuries.
INVESTIGATING DEPUTY:
Dep. Raymond Hochsprung VBCSO
ASSISTING DEPUTIES:
Sgt. Wayne Polomcak, K9Dep. Kevin VanBrussel, K9 Xack VBCSO
ASSISTING DETECTIVES:
DLt. Bryan Stump and DSgt. Mark McCulfor VBCSO
OTHER ASSISTING
AGENCIES/OFFICERS:
Lt. Tressa Beltran of Hartford PD and Dep Chief Tom Dahlquist of Decatur PD
ASSISTING FIRE/MEDICAL AGENCIES:
Keeler Twp Quick Response, Sister Lakes EMS
SUPERVISOR CONTACT:
Please contact the on duty Sergeant @ (269) 657-3101, or Operations Lt.
William Lux @ (269) 657-2006
email
INCIDENT #:
6030-09
DATE AND TIME:
August 7, 2009 at approximately 7:00 pm.
LOCATION:
94000 BLK CR690
Sister Lakes Area of Keeler Twp.
INCIDENT TYPE:
Personal injury
crash-Open Intoxicants in motor vehicle-Operating a motor vehicle while
intoxicated investigation.
VEHICLE #1:
Green 1997
Chevrolet Cavalier, severely damaged.
DRIVER INJURIES: 25
year old male out of Niles, MI. Numerous abrasions and impact trauma,
transported by SLEMS to Lee Memorial Hospital for treatment. (name withheld
pending possible criminal charges).
PASSENGER INJURIES:
21
year old
male out of Elkhart, IN. Numerous abrasions and impact trauma, transported by
SLEMS to Lee Memorial Hospital for treatment. (name withheld pending possible
criminal charges).
VEHICLE #2:
Black 2008 Ford
F-150, severely damaged.
DRIVER INJURIES:
49 year old
male out of Dowagiac, MI. Complaint of minor aches and pains, refused
treatment.
PASSENGER INJURIES:
46
year old
female out of Dowagiac, MI. Complaint of minor aches and pains, refused
treatment.
VEHICLE #3: Silver
1998 Oldsmobile Aurora, parked and unoccupied at the time of crash, severely
damaged.
ALCOHOL:
Alcohol appears to be a factor in this crash.
INFORMATION:
Sheriff Dale R. Gribler reports that Van Buren county sheriff
deputies along with additional emergency services personnel were dispatched to
the 94000 block of CR 690, located in Sister Lakes, for a report of a 3 car
personal injury crash.
Emergency responders on scene began treating the
occupants that were in the 1997 Chevrolet Cavalier and the 2008 Ford pickup
truck. The third vehicle, a 1998 Oldsmobile Alero, was found to have been
parked, unoccupied and severely damaged from the crash.
Deputies investigation into this crash discovered that
the driver of the Chevrolet Cavalier had been northbound on CR 690. At,
what is believed to be a high rate of speed, this driver crossed the center line
hitting the 2008 Ford pickup truck which was southbound. This impact caused the
Chevrolet Cavalier to lose control go off the road hitting some small trees and
then the parked/unoccupied Oldsmobile. The occupants in the Chevy Cavalier were
both transported by ambulance with serious injuries to Lee Memorial Hospital in
Dowagiac. They are listed in stable condition with non life threatening injuries
reported at this time.
Open alcohol was found within the Chevy Cavalier, as
did both its occupants show signs of consuming it as well.
This investigation into this crash continues as will it
be forwarded to the county prosecutor’s office as well for review.
INVESTIGATING DEPUTY: Deputy
Raymond W. Hochsprung.
ASSISTING DEPUTIES:
Deputies Mark
Stickels, Tim Wydick. K9 Deputy Jason Stasienko and K9 Vento were disregarded
after the driver of vehicle 1 was located.
ASSISTING AGENCIES:
Keeler Twp Quick
Response, Sister Lakes Fire and EMS.
SUPERVISOR CONTACT:
Please contact
the on duty Sergeant at (269) 657-3101, or Operations Lt. William Lux at (269)
657-2006.
Jul 2009
Incident #: 5427-09
Nature of Incident:
Boating Accident Involving Serious Injuries.
Date and Time:
Friday -
July 17, 2009
at 1429 hrs.
Location: Round Lake
near a private beach in the 94000 block of Maple Lane, Keeler Township
Watercraft
Involved:
Blue/White 1989
Mastercraft 19 ft. inboard speed-boat, no damage.
Damaged Property:
Private
wood and barrel raft, minor damage.
Boat Operator:
Earl S.
Ebers, 49 year old male out of Lansing, IL.
Uninjured Passengers:
Thomas C.
Tiberi, 40 year old male out of New Lennox, IL.
Name
withheld, 10 year old female out of New Lennox, IL.
Name
withheld, 13 year old female out of New Lennox, IL.
Name
withheld, minor female out of Lansing, IL.
Uninjured Party on Tube:
Unknown
male, 13 year old, related to both injured parties, uninjured.
Injured Party #1 on Tube:
Name
withheld, 17 year old male out of Lansing, IL. Severe internal
injuries, multiple abrasions to his arms, and a facial laceration.
Transported by ambulance to Borgess Lee Memorial Hospital, and then to
South Bend Memorial Hospital Trauma Center.
Injured Party #2 on Tube:
Name
withheld, 11 year old male out of Lansing, IL. Severe head trauma and
multiple internal injuries. Transported by Air Care helicopter to South
Bend Memorial Hospital Trauma Center.
Information:
Sheriff Dale R.
Gribler reports that Uniform Response and Marine Patrol Deputies were
dispatched to a report of a boating accident on Round Lake near the
94000 block of Maple Lane in Keeler Twp. Deputies arrived on scene and
secured it while medical personnel treated and transported the victims.
Through the subsequent investigation and interviews
with witnesses, it was determined that the watercraft was towing 3 tubes
behind it. The watercraft turned towards shore and caused the outside
(in relation to shoreline) tube to cross the wake and collide with the
center and inside tube. This caused the center and inside tube to
abruptly swing in towards shore and strike the wood and barrel raft.
The 17 year old male was ejected from his tube and landed on top of the
raft, and the 11 year old was ejected into the side of the raft, coming
to rest underneath it and knocking off one of the float barrels.
Witnesses on scene, of which some were off duty
firefighters from IL and one off duty Detroit area police officer,
administered first aid until EMS could arrive.
Investigating Deputies:
Deputies
Rich Wallace and Raymond Hochsprung - VBCSO Uniform Response Division;
Marine Deputy Jason Fisk - VBCSO Marine Patrol
Division; Detective Dan Perkins - VBCSO Dive Team.
Assisting Law Enforcement Agencies:
Pokagon Tribal
Police.
Fire-EMS Agencies:
Sister Lakes
Fire Dept., Sister Lakes EMS, Keeler Twp Quick Response, and Air Care.
Supervisor Contact:
On duty Sgt or Marine Patrol
Sgt. Chad Jahr (269) 657-3101;
Lt. William Lux (269) 657-2006.
Sgt. Chad Jahr
Marine Division
Van Buren County
Sheriff's Office
205 S. Kalamazoo St.
Paw Paw, MI 49079
(269) 657-3101
Fax: (269) 657-7207
email
Incident #:
4991-09
Date and Time: Saturday
July 4, 2009
at approximately 8:30 pm
Location:
Keeler Lake,
Keeler Township
Boat Operator
#1: 27
year old, white male from Chicago, IL
Boat Operator
#2: 50
year old, white male from Decatur, MI
Vehicle #1:
2002
Kawasaki Jet Ski, minor damage
Vehicle #2:
2007 Godfrey
Pleasure Boat, minor damage
Data Master:
.17 Blood
Alcohol Content
Information:
Sheriff Dale R. Gribler reports that Marine
Deputies, along with Deputy Hochsprung from Keeler Township, were
dispatched to a boating crash on Keeler Lake. Deputies launched
patrol vessel and went to investigate the crash.
Deputies found that
operator #1 had been drinking. Operator #1 was transported to land
and given sobriety tests and arrested for Operating a boat while
intoxicated. Operator #1 was transported to the Van Buren County
Jail, booked and lodged.
Operator #2 was found not to be drinking.
The investigation shows that while Operator #2 was traveling across
the lake, Operator #1 ran into the side of his vessel.
The
investigation has been turned over to the Van Buren County
Prosecutor's Office.
Investigating Deputies:
Mike Hostetler, Mikal Pechota and Raymond W.
Hochsprung
Supervisor Contact:
On Duty
Supervisor (269) 657-3101
Sgt. Chad Jahr
Marine Division
Van Buren County Sheriff's
Office
205 S.
Kalamazoo St.
Paw Paw,
MI 49079
(269)
657-3101
Fax: (269)
657-7207
email
May 2009
INCIDENT #: 3723-09
NATURE OF INCIDENT: Operating While
Intoxicated-Boating.
DATE AND TIME: Sunday,
May 24, 2009
at approximately 12:45 a.m.
LOCATION: Magician Lake, Keeler Township.
BOAT OPERATOR/SUSPECT: 53 year old, white male from
Crete Illinois.
PASSENGERS: There were 9 additional passengers on
boat.
VEHICLE INFORMATION: 2003 Princecraft Pontoon Boat .
INFORMATION: Sheriff Dale R.
Gribler reports that Van Buren County Sheriff’s Marine Division was on patrol on
Magician Lake, Keeler Township, on Sunday May 24, 2009 at approximately 12:45
am.
Marine Deputies made contact with a 53 year old, Crete
Illinois resident that was operating a Pontoon boat with nine additional
passenger’s in the early morning hours on Magician Lake. Marine Deputies found
the boat operator to be under the influence of alcohol. The boat operator was
subsequently arrested for Operating While Intoxicated and was lodged at the Van
Buren County Jail pending arraignment.
The boat and nine passengers were safely removed and
transported to their residence.
The investigation has been turned over to the Van Buren
County Prosecutor’s Office.
INVESTIGATING MARINE DEPUTIES:
Marine Deputy Nathan Penning and Ben Downey.
SUPERVISOR CONTACT: On Duty Sergeant (269)
657-3101.
Sergeant Scott Schmitt
Van Buren County Sheriff's Office
Uniform Response/K9 Division
205 S. Kalamazoo Street
Paw Paw MI 49079
Telephone: (269) 657-3101 ext. 801
email
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