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2010
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information.
Jun 2010
Incident No:
4536-10
Incident Type:
Personal Injury Crash
Date and Time:
June 26, 2010 at 0108 a.m.
Location:
Westbound I-94 near the 49mm in the median, Lawrence Township.
Seat Belts Used: It is
unknown if safety belts were used.
Vehicle: Gray
2007 Honda Accord.
Alcohol: Alcohol
is believed to be a factor.
Narcotics: 2.1
grams of marijuana as well as a marijuana pipe were found.
Driver:
43 year old male out of St. Joseph, Mi. name withheld until
arraignment.
Injuries: Driver
sustained injuries to his head and stomach.
Narrative: Sheriff
Dale R. Gribler reports that, on 6-26-10 at 0108 hours, deputies were dispatched
to a personal injury crash on I-94.
Upon arrival deputies found the vehicle in
the median and that the driver had been ejected from the vehicle. Deputies
were informed that the vehicle had hit the cable barrier and flipped over the
top of it ending up in the median. Deputies were also informed that the driver
had been ejected.
The driver was taken to Bronson Methodist Hospital by EMS
for injuries to his head and stomach. Marijuana was found at the scene of the
crash. Alcohol is believed to be a factor.
Because of injuries, subject was not arrested and a report will be sent to the
Prosecutor’s Office for OWI and Possession of Marijuana.
Investigating Officer: Deputy
Matthew Konkle, Deputy
Adam Bielang of the Van
Buren County Sheriff's Office.
Contact Person:
On Duty Sgt. or Lt. Robert Kirk
email
Jan 2010
Incident #:
570-10.
Incident Type/arrest
charges:
Flee or Elude, Resisting & Obstructing, Fail to Report an Accident.
Date & Time of Incident:
January
24, 2010
at 0001 hrs.
Location of Incident:
In
front of 116 E. St. Joseph St. in the Village of Lawrence.
Arrested/Driver:
30
year old Hispanic male from the Benton Harbor area.
Narrative:
Sheriff Dale R. Gribler reports that Van Buren County Sheriff Deputies were
dispatched to the Red Arrow Bar for a report of a subject running into another
vehicle in a fit of rage.
Upon Deputies arrival on scene, the suspect was parked at the
Lawson's Citgo Gas Station in the Village of Lawrence. Deputies approached
the vehicle, but the suspect drove off west bound on Red Arrow Hwy.
Deputies pursued the suspect West on Red Arrow Hwy to
County Road 681, where the suspect turned south bound on County Road 681,
reaching speeds of over 100 m.p.h. The suspect was pursued to County Road
352, where he finally came to a stop in front of a stop stick (deployed spike
strip) before striking them. Deputies ordered the suspect out of the
vehicle, in which he did not respond, therefore had to pull the suspect out of
the vehicle. The suspect then resisted Deputies, but deputies were able to
gain control of the suspect and place him into custody.
The suspect was transported to the Van Buren County
Jail where he was lodged. During the investigation, it was found that the
suspect not only owned the vehicle he was fleeing in but, was also the owner
of the vehicle he ran into. The suspect stated he ran into the vehicle
because he had been arguing with his wife at the bar and the vehicle he
hit was the vehicle she had driven to that location. The suspect had an
alcohol level of .016.
Name is being withheld pending arraignment in 7th
District Court East, Paw Paw.
Arresting officer: Deputy Ben Ludwig, Uniform
Response Division.
Contact Person:
The
on-duty sergeant at 269-657-3101.
Incident Update:
January
13, 2010
JURY CONVICTS LINDA STERMER
IN HER HUSBAND TODD STERMER’S DEATH
Incident Type:
Fatal Fire, Murder
Original Date & Time:
January 7, 2007
(click here for original report)
Location:
66000 block of County Road 215, Lawrence Township.
Victim: Todd
Joseph Stermer, 42 (2007) of Lawrence MI.
Convicted:
Linda Kay Stermer, 44, Lawrence MI.
Count 1: Homicide - Murder First Degree,
Premeditated, did deliberately, with the intent to kill, and with premeditation,
kill and murder one Todd Joseph Stermer, contrary to MCL750.316. Felony Life.
Count 2: Homicide - Felony Murder- did while in the
perpetration or attempted perpetration of an arson, murder one Todd Joseph
Stermer, contrary to MCL 750.316(1)(b). Felony: Life without parole.
Information:
Sheriff Dale
Gribler reports that the trial of Linda Kay Stermer started on January 5, 2010
in the 36th Circuit Court before the Honorable William C. Buhl. The six day
trial was presented by Prosecutor Juirs Kaps. The jury received the case late
Tuesday afternoon and then resumed their deliberations Wednesday morning,
returning a verdict before noon of guilty as charged in both counts as charged.
Sentencing is set for February 8th at
1:15PM in the 36th Circuit Court, Paw Paw Michigan.
Investigators:
Detective Sergeant Thomas Macyauski, (269) 657-7711
email, Detective Gabrielle Rought, (269) 657-7711
email.
Supervisor:
Bryan R. Stump, D/Lieutenant, Van Buren County
Sheriff's Office, Narcotic's & Investigative Divisions, 205 S.
Kalamazoo S., Paw Paw, MI 49079, (269) 657-7711 ext 208 Office, (269) 657-8296
West Office,
email.
Dec 2009
Incident #:
9775-09.
Incident Type:
Poaching.
Date & Time of Incident:
December 22, 2009
at 12:30 a.m.
Location of Incident:
46000 block of 48th Ave in Lawrence Township.
Suspect Information:
Two 18 year old males
from Paw Paw. Names being
withheld pending arraignment.
Charges: Both
subjects were arrested on charges of taking an illegal deer from a motor
vehicle, shining while in possession of a weapon. The driver was charged
with possession of an uncased firearm in a motor vehicle.
Narrative:
Sheriff
Dale R. Gribler reports that deputies were dispatched to the 46000 block of 48th
Avenue for a poaching complaint. The caller advised that she saw a vehicle
shining a bright light into nearby fields and then she heard a gunshot.
Deputies searched the area and located a pickup truck
in the 42000 block of County Road 374. In the bed of the truck was an 8 point
buck that was still warm to the touch with a fresh bullet wound. Further
investigation revealed a muzzleloader and high-power spotlight in the cab of the
truck. Deputies questioned the subjects and they eventually admitted to
shooting the deer after seeing it running in a field.
Deputies were assisted in the investigation by the
Michigan Department of Natural Resources Law Enforcement Division.
Both subjects were lodged in the Van Buren County Jail in Paw Paw pending
arraignment.
Investigating
Officer:
Deputy Greg Pentland, Deputy Travis Bernatche, Deputy
Casey Davis, Sgt. Scott Schmitt.
Contact Person:
Please contact the
on-duty Sergeant or Lt. William Lux at 269-657-3101,
email.
Nov 2009
Oct 2009
INCIDENT#: 7682-09
INCIDENT TYPE: OWI
2nd (operating while intoxicated second offense), providing false information to
police, traffic crash investigation, fugitive arrest.
DATE AND TIME: October
3, 2009 at 4:45 p.m.
LOCATION: 48000
block of Red Arrow highway located in Lawrence Township.
SUSPECT-ARRESTED:
Efrain Gonzalez-Mora, 21 year old Paw Paw man.
VEHICLE INFORMATION: 1990
Honda 4-door passenger car.
INFORMATION:
Sheriff Dale
R. Gribler reports that Van Buren
County
Sheriff
Deputies
were called to the 48000 block of Red Arrow highway in reference to a reported
one vehicle crash.
While deputies were en route to this location,
further information was provided that persons were in the process of attempting
to push the vehicle out of the ditch. Sheriff Deputies on scene noted a male
subject behind the wheel of the 1990 Honda passenger car attempting to drive it
out of the ditch. Contact made with this driver he smelled strongly of alcohol,
as did he have visible such as bloodshot and watery eyes, off balance, all
indicators of having consumed alcohol as well. As deputies were attempting to
arrest the subject for drunk driving, he refused to be placed into handcuffs and
pulled away from the arresting officer and began to walk away. The subject was
taken into custody after being advised to comply or be tased by the
investigating officer.
The suspect gave to the officer a name of Joel Flores
several times; this information was also provided to Spanish speaking deputies
and corrections officers as well.
The Van Buren
County
Sheriff's
Jail
does have a system called AFIS (automated fingerprint identification system), a
national data base system utilized by Law enforcement throughout the county.
Within a few hours, information was provided back on the suspects real name
being that of Efrain Gonzalez-Mora, who was found to have a fugitive warrant out
of Portland Oregon for possession of Heroin (to which they will extradite), and
a probation violation out of the Paw Paw Village police department.
The suspect was discovered to also having been
arrested in the State of Wisconsin for drunk driving, as well. Beside these two
warrants, the suspect was lodged in the Van Buren County Jail for OWI 2nd, no
valid ops, improper plates, and providing false information to police.
INVESTIGATING OFFICERS:
Sergeant David Walker, Deputy Miriam Sipes, Van Buren County Sheriff's Office
Uniform Response Division.
CONTACT PERSONS:
On duty
sergeant or Lt William Lux at 269-657-3101
Sep 2009
INCIDENT TYPE:
Motorcycle Versus
Semi Personal Injury Accident.
DATE AND TIME:
Saturday
September 26, 2009
at approximately 5:55 p.m.
LOCATION:
I-94 and County Road 365 (Lawrence Exit), Lawrence Township.
COMPLAINT #:
7498-09
VEHICLE #1:
2003 Harley Davidson Motorcycle.
DRIVER#1:
David Robert Smith, 51 year
old, Paw Paw Resident.
INJURIES TO DRIVER #1: Smith was transported to
Bronson Hospital with Internal Injuries. and Broken Bones.
VEHICLE #2:
2005 Mac Semi.
DRIVER
#2:
Melton Crudup, 50 years old, Ypsilanti resident.
INJURIES TO DRIVER #2: None
INFORMATION:
Sheriff Dale R. Gribler
reports that on Saturday, September 26, 2009, at approximately 5:55 p.m., Van
Buren Central Dispatch received multiple 911 calls reporting a Motorcycle-Semi
Tractor Trailer personal injury accident on I-94 at the Lawrence Exit, Lawrence
Township.
Investigation determined that David Smith, of Paw Paw,
was operating a 2003 Harley Davidson when he was attempting to ramp on Eastbound
I-94 at the Lawrence Exit. Smith's motorcycle then ran into the side of a Semi
Tractor Trailer that was eastbound. Smith was ejected from his motorcycle.
The Semi Tractor Trailer operator was not injured in
the accident. Smith was transported to Bronson Hospital was he was admitted in
Serious Condition for his internal injuries.
The investigation is continuing for the result of the
accident.
INVESTIGATING DEPUTIES:
Sergeant
Scott Schmitt (269) 657-3101 ext. 801.
SUPERVISOR CONTACT: On
Duty Sergeant (269) 657-3101
Sergeant Scott Schmitt
Van Buren County Sheriff's Office
Uniform Response/K9 Division
Telephone: (269) 657-3101 ext. 801
Click here to
send an email
Incident Type: 1
vehicle personal injury crash.
Date and Time: September
18, 2009 at approximately 11:25
a.m.
Location: 57000 block
of CR 365 located in Lawrence Township.
Incident Number:
7237-09
Driver-injuries: Mariah
Steele 18 year old female from Lawrence township. Steele sustained injuries to
her face and leg resulting from this crash. Seatbelt worn. Transported by
ambulance to Lakeview hospital in Paw Paw for treatment.
Passenger-injuries: Theresa Shriver 17
year old female from Lawrence township. Shriver was transported by ambulance
to Lakeview hospital for sustained injuries to her shoulder. Shriver was
wearing her seatbelt.
Vehicle information: 1988 GMC pickup.
Vehicle sustained major front end damage
Information: Sheriff Dale R.
Gribler reports that Van Buren county sheriff deputies, along with additional
emergency services personnel, responded to the 57000 block of CR 365 located in
Lawrence township for a report of a 1 vehicle personal injury crash.
Emergency personnel on scene noted the severely damaged
1988 pickup truck down a deep embankment in a blueberry field.
Checking the status of its occupants, who were still in
the pickup truck, found the driver identified as 18 year old Mariah Steele and
her passenger 17 year old Theresa Shiver both of Lawrence injured.
Deputies investigation into the crash by speaking
to Steele. Evidence located at the scene found that she had been northbound on
CR365 when she became distracted, taking her eyes momentarily off the road and
the direction of her vehicle. When Steele looked up, her vehicle had already
crossed the center line and traveled off the road hitting a power pole which
broke in half, the vehicle then traveled down the very steep embankment and into
a blueberry field.
Both Steele and her passenger Shriver were transported
by ambulance to Lakeview hospital in Paw Paw for treatment of injuries sustained
in this traffic crash.
Investigating officers: Sergeant
Walker, Deputy Evans, Uniform response division.
Assisting: Lawrence
quick response team, Lawrence fire department and Van Buren EMS.
Supervisor contact:
On duty Sergeant or Lt Lux at 269-657-3101.
Aug 2009
Jul 2009
Incident Type:
Personal Injury Crash
Date & Time of Incident:
July 27,
2009 at 6:16 p.m.
Location of Incident:
Eastbound I-94 near the 51 mile marker in
Lawrence Township.
Incident #:
5712-09.
Driver #1:
18 year old female,
Jordan Renee Vertz, from
Benton Harbor.
Injuries:
None.
Vehicle #1: 2000 Lincoln LS.
Passengers:
25 year old male,
Jeremiah Rochefort, from
Coloma.
Driver #2:
51 year
old male, James Alan New,
from Coloma.
Injuries:
The
driver of vehicle #2 was transported to Bronson Lakeview Hospital in Paw Paw
with non life-threatening injuries to his back.
Vehicle #2: 2008 Dodge Avenger.
Seat Belts used: All parties involved
were wearing seat belts.
Is alcohol a factor: Alcohol is not a
factor in the crash.
Criminal Charges or Traffic Citations issued:
Jordan Vertz
was cited for Driving While License Suspended and Careless Driving.
Narrative:
Sheriff
Dale R. Gribler reports that Deputies were dispatched to I-94 eastbound at the
51 mile marker for a personal injury crash. Upon arrival, it was found that two
cars had collided causing one to leave the roadway and go into the ditch.
Further investigation revealed that the crash was a result of road rage.
Witnesses advised that both vehicles were traveling in excess of 80 miles per
hour. The Dodge Avenger passed the Lincoln LS. The Lincoln then began
tail-gating the Dodge. The driver of the Dodge began tapping his brakes and
both drivers began exchanging derogatory hand gestures. The Lincoln attempted
to pass the Dodge, but was unable to safely overtake the vehicle because a semi
was traveling in the other lane. The Lincoln struck the Dodge causing it to
spin and slide into the ditch.
Investigating
Officers: Deputy Travis Bernatche,
Deputy Casey Davis, Deputy Ben Downey.
Assisting Agencies:
Lawrence Fire Department, Lawrence Quick Response, Van Buren EMS.
Contact Person:
On-duty
Sergeant or Lt. William Lux at 269-657-3101.
Date and Time:
July 8, 2009 at 12:00 hrs
Incident Type:
Property Damage Accident/Warrant Arrest/DWLS Arrest.
Report#:
5118-09
Location:
CR-365/Lawrence East Bound I-94 Exit Ramp.
Vehicle 1:
Older Model Red Ford F-150. Minor Damage.
Driver 1:
Jose Luis Sifuentes Jr, 32 year old male from the Coloma area. Arrested and
transferred to the Berrien County Sheriffs Office on their warrant for Felony
Probation Violation. Not injured.
Vehicle 2:
Older Model Dark Blue Cadillac. Moderate Damage.
Driver 2:
Name Withheld Pending Arraignment, 21 year old male from the Bangor Area. Arrested,
cited, and released at the scene for DWLS. Not injured.
Information:
Sheriff Dale R. Gribler reports that Deputies were southbound on CR-365 when
they observed vehicle 1 abruptly stop at the exit stop sign to avoid rolling
through it in front of the Deputies.
Driver 2 was also staring at the
Deputies patrol vehicle and ran into the back of vehicle 1. Deputies stopped
and checked to see if there were any injuries, and conducted an
investigation.
Driver 1 falsified his identity information to Deputies. A Michigan
Chauffeurs license was later located to provide positive identification of
Driver 1.
Driver 1 was subsequently found to be on Probation for Dangerous
Drugs and had a Felony Probation Violation warrant out of Berrien County. Michigan
State Police transported Driver 1 to the Berrien Co Jail for Deputies.
A
report is being submitted to the Van Buren Co Prosecutors office for False
Information to a Police Officer charge against Driver 1.
Driver 2 was found to be driving on a suspend license and was
cited and released after his identity was established.
Investigating
Officers:
Deputies Charles Loughrin and Raymond W. Hochsprung VBCSO.
Assisting
Officer:
Trooper Paul Plangger MSP Post-51.
Supervisor
Contact:
Please contact the on duty Sergeant at 657-3101, or Lt. William Lux at
657-2006 email
Jun 2009
Incident Type:
Home Invasion-Warrant Arrest
Incident Date and Time:
June 23, 2009
at 1:13am
Incident #: 4623-09
Incident location:
63683 CR681 Lawrence Twp.
Suspect:
60 year old male from the Watervliet area
Victims:
48 year old female from the address listed
59 year old male from the address listed
Weapons:
A small pocket knife was used in this incident.
Information:
Sheriff Dale Gribler reports that Deputies where sent to the above location
for a Home Invasion in progress. Deputies where advised, while en route to the
incident address, that the suspect fled the scene prior to arrival. Deputies
arrived on scene and were advised by the victims that an acquaintance that
they knew had come over looking for his girlfriend and attempted to break into
the house. The victims said the suspect abuses his girlfriend and they let her
stay at the house when she needs to to get away from him. The suspect was
advised by the victim that his girlfriend was not at the home, but the suspect
attempted to gain access to the residence by breaking the door open and
cutting the the screen door. Deputies obtained a location of the suspect in
Watervliet and arrived at the trailer park to find him gone. While searching
the area of the trailer park, Deputies observed the suspect pulling in with the
suspect vehicle where he was taken into custody on a Outstanding Warrant and
Home Invasion. The suspect was lodged at VanBuren County Jail on the above
charges where he is awaiting Arraignment.
Assisting Agencies: Berrien County Sheriff's office,
Coloma Police Dept.,
Watervliet Police Dept.
Investigating Officers:
Deputy Casey Davis 657-3101 EX835,
Deputy Travis Bernatche 657-3101 EX831
Supervisor Information:
On duty supervisor or Lt Lux
Incident #: 4133-09
Incident Type: Personal Injury Crash
Date and time:
June 6, 2009 at 1828
Location: CR681 and Red Arrow Hwy
Vehicle 1:
1993 Buick Skylark
Driver 1: Thomas Nuccio a 47 year old from the Bangor
Vehicle 2: 2008 Harley Davidson
Driver 2:
Lawrence Christopher a 60 year old man from Coloma
Passenger 2: Betty Christopher a 56 year old female
from the Coloma, passenger is the wife of driver
#2
Injuries: The driver and the the passenger on the motorcycle where both being
treated with head injuries. The passenger had a possible broken leg.
Alcohol: Alcohol is not believed to be a factor in this crash
Information:
Sheriff Dale
Gribler reports that Deputies where called to the intersection of CR681 and
Red Arrow Hwy for a Personal Injury Crash with two victims lying on the
ground.
Deputies arrived on scene and where told by witnesses that the at-fault vehicle traveled south on CR681 failed to yield
at the stop light and entered into the intersection of CR681 and Red
Arrow Hwy. The second vehicle a Harley Davidson
was east bound and had no time to stop and crashed into the side of
vehicle 1.
The driver of the Harley along with the passenger where treated by
Lawrence Quick Response, Lawrence Fire, and Van Buren EMS while on scene. The
two victims had visible head injuries and where transported to Watervliet
Hospital.
The Harley Davidson Motorcycle had extensive front end damage and
had to be removed by a wrecker.
Investigating officer:
Deputy Casey Davis EX835, Deputy Todd Oliver EX818, Deputy Kyle Romeo EX 810.
Supervisor Contact: Wayne Polomcak EX85
Click here for trial-conviction update on
January 13,
2010.
Incident Update:
June 5, 2009
INCIDENT TYPE: Suspicious Fatal Fire-Murder
Suspect Arrested: Linda Kay
Stermer
DATE & TIME:
January 7, 2007
LOCATION: 66000 block
of County Road 215, Lawrence Township.
VICTIM: Todd Joseph
STERMER, 42 (2007), Lawrence MI.
ARRESTED: Linda
Kay Stermer, 44 of Lawrence Michigan.
CHARGES:
Count 1: HOMICIDE-
Murder First Degree- Premeditated, did deliberately, with the intent to kill,
and with premeditation, kill and murder one Todd Joseph Stermer, contrary to
MCL750.316. Felony Life.
Count 2: HOMICIDE-
Felony Murder- did while in the perpetration or attempted perpetration of an
arson, murder one Todd Joseph Stermer, contrary to MCL 750.316(1)(b). Felony:
Life without parole.
INFORMATION:
Sheriff Dale R Gribler reports that Van Buren
County Prosecutor Juris Kaps has authorized the two count warrant for Linda Kay
STERMER, the wife of Todd. Linda STERMER was taken into custody by Detectives of
the Van Buren County Sheriff’s Office without incident. STERMER is lodged in the
county jail without bond, pending her arraignment in the 7th District
Court on Monday June 8th.
On January 7th, 2007 the Sheriff’s Office
with the Assistance of the Michigan State Police Fire Marshall's office
investigated the suspicious nature of the fire and death of Todd Stermer. The
accounts of the fire and death of Todd being given by Linda STERMER were in
question at that time and had changed on a number of occasions.
On October 29th, 2007, Sheriff Dale R
Gribler and Prosecutor Juris Kaps reported on the findings of the fire that
claimed the life of Todd Joseph Stermer, Sunday afternoon, January 7th
of 2007. Prosecutor Kaps released that the suspicious fire has now been
“determined to be arson”. Evidence collect in the investigation showed the
presence of a liquid petroleum product being used.
Detectives continued the investigation into the fire
and death of Todd over the months with the report being submitted to Prosecutor
Kaps for review and his issuance of the charges on this date of 06/05/09.
INVESTIGATORS: Det/Sgt.
Thomas Macyauski, (269) 427-8711
Click here to send an email, Det. Gabrielle Rought, (269) 657-7711
Click here to send an email
SUPERVISOR CONTACT: On
duty Sergeant. (269) 657-3101
Bryan R. Stump, D/Lieutenant
Van Buren County Sheriff's Office
Narcotic's & Investigative Divisions
205 S. Kalamazoo Street
Paw Paw, Michigan 49079
(269) 657-7711 ext 208 Office
(269) 657-8296 West Office
Click here to
send an email
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