Aug 2010

Incident No: 
Incident Type:  Possession of Meth and Meth Components
Incident Date and Time:  August 25, 2010 at 1530 hrs
Incident Location:   Brandywine Lake Public Access, Pine Grove Township
Suspect:  26 yr old male Paw Paw Area (name withheld pending district court arraignment)
Evidence seized:  3.1 grams methamphetamines, 6 boxes of sudaphed tablets, 1 glass smoking pipe.
Charges Requested:  Possession of Methamphetamines and Possession of Meth components.

Investigating Deputies:  Deputy Rennhack
Supervisor Contact:  On Duty Sergeant at 657-3101 or Lt Robert Kirk at email.

Incident Number:  5816-10
Incident type:  Traffic Stop - Operating-Maintaining Meth Lab
Date & Time: Friday August 6, 2010 at approximately 1:14 a.m.
Location of Incident: County Road 388 near 29th St, Pine Grove Twp, Van Buren Co.
Vehicle Involved: 1993 Toyota Celica, 2-door, white in color
Suspect Information: 27 year old Daniel Levi Leiter from the Kalamazoo area
Criminal Charges:

1. Operating-Maintaining Meth Lab involving Hazardous Waste
2. Resist-Obstruct Police Officer
3. Possession of Methamphetamine
4. Possession of Marijuana
5. Providing False Information to Police
6. Driving While License Suspended, 2nd

Information:  Sheriff Dale R. Gribler reports that deputies conducted a traffic stop on CR388 near 29th St on the above date and time, as its driver had been viewed driving erratically.
     Upon making contact with the driver, he provided deputies with a false name, this after advising that he did not have a driver’s license on his person. Deputies noticed what appeared to be a marijuana joint in plain view inside this vehicle. Deputies then attempted to place the driver under arrest, at which time, the driver fled on foot. After a short foot pursuit, deputies were able to apprehend the driver without any injury to this subject or to the arresting officers.
     Upon further investigation, Deputies located an additional marijuana, methamphetamine and non-prescribed prescription drugs. Deputies also located an active meth lab and numerous items used in the manufacturing of methamphetamine.
     After being secured, this subject advised deputies that he had, in fact, provided them with a false name. Deputies then ran the drivers true name through dispatch and discovered that he was wanted on three outstanding warrants out of Kalamazoo County. Two of the warrants were for drug-related charges and the third for a traffic offense.
     The driver was transported to the Van Buren County Jail where he was lodged on the outstanding warrants and on the charges shown above..

Assisting Agencies:  Van Buren County Sheriff’s Narcotics Unit, the D.E.A out of Grand Rapids was contacted and they dispatched Drug & Lab Disposal out of Plainwell, Michigan to the scene to conduct cleanup of the hazardous materials.
Investigating Officers:  Deputy Matthew Konkle, Deputy Adam Bielangm
Supervisor-Contact:  The on-duty Sgt. or  Lt. Robert Kirk (269)657-3101 email

Jul 2010

Incident Number:  5076-10
Incident Type:  Personal Injury Crash
Date and Time:  July 11, 2010 at 2327
Location:  20th Ave near 27th St. in Pine Grove Twp.
Vehicle:  2007 Kia Spectra5, orange in color, sustained heavy front end damage.
Seat Belts:  The driver had his shoulder and lap belt on and the passenger had only his lap belt on.
Alcohol:  Alcohol was not a factor in this crash.
Driver 1:  Joseph Stephens a 16 year old male from the Mattawan.
Passenger:  James Stephens 15 year old male from the Gobles.
Injuries:  The passenger has a laceration to the head from his head striking the windshield. He was transported via ambulance to the hospital.
Hospital:  Bronson Lakeview.
Citation: The driver was cited for driving to fast for conditions.

Information:  Sheriff Dale Gribler reports that Deputies where dispatched to 20th Ave near 27th St. for a vehicle that lost control and struck a tree.
     Deputies arrived on scene and attended to a 15 year old passenger who was suffering from a laceration to the head from his head striking the windshield. Deputies where advised by the driver that the two got lost on 20th Ave. and lost control coming around a curve and slammed into a tree.
     The passenger advised Deputies that he only had on his lap belt and the shoulder belt was put behind him.
     Joseph and James are cousins, the parents of the driver where also concerned because the air bags did not deploy during the crash.
     The passenger was transported by Coloma EMS to the hospital for a head laceration. The driver refused all medical treatment.

Investigating officer:  Deputy Casey Davis email
Supervisor Contact:  On duty Sergeant 269-657-3101
 

Jun 2010

Incident No:  3905-10
Incident Type:  Fatal automobile crash.
Date & time:  June 5, 2010 at approx. 0216 am.
Alcohol:  It is unknown, at this time, if alcohol was a factor.
Fatal:   The driver, Galen Patrick McDevitt, DOB 10-20-89, was killed in the crash.
Passengers and Injuries: 
     #1 - Jordan Daniel Field, male 19 year old from Bloomingdale, critical condition with a wide range of injuries.
     #2 - Angelica Hernandez, 16 year old from Paw Paw, was treated and released.
Vehicle:   Black Jeep Commander  4x4.

Information:  Sheriff Dale R. Gribler reports that on 6/5/2010 at 0216 am, deputies were dispatched to 8th Ave. & 30.5 St. in Pine Grove Twp. for a personal injury accident. Deputies were advised that a car had crashed into the trees and that there was people trapped inside the vehicle with injuries. Upon arrival on scene, deputies found the vehicle on its side with three passenger's trapped inside. The passengers had to be cut out of the vehicle by fire personnel. The driver, Galen Patrick McDevitt, was killed in the crash. The two other passengers were transported to Bronson hospital for serious injuries.

Investigating Deputies:  Dep. Matthew Konkle, Dep. Adam Bielang, Sgt. Dennis Harvey, Dep. Kyle Romeo. 
Assisting Agencies:  Pine Grove Fire Department, Coloma EMS.
Contact Person:  On duty Sgt or Lt. William Lux at email
 

May 2010

Apr 2010

Mar 2010

Feb 2010

Jan 2010

Dec 2009

Nov 2009

Incident #:   9180-09
Incident Type:  Car versus tree personal injury crash.
Date and Time:   November 26, 2009 at approximately 5:00 pm.
Location:  13000 block of 29th street located in Pine Grove Township.
Vehicle:  1998 Honda Prelude passenger car.
Driver:  Taylor Congdon 16 year old female from Gobles.
     Injuries:  Congdon complained of injuries to her head and body.  She was transported by ambulance to Allegan General Hospital for treatment.
Passengers: 
    #1:  Daniel Pumford a 21 year old Gobles man.  Received injuries to his arm and chest area to which he was transported by ambulance to Allegan General Hospital for treatment.
    #2:  Ian Dickerson a 22 year old Grand Rapid man complained of injuries to his head and body to which he was transported by ambulance to Allegan General Hospital for treatment.
Seat Belts:  Driver and passengers were seat belted in. 
Alcohol:  Was not a factor.

Information:   Sheriff Dale R. Gribler reports that Van Buren County Sheriff deputies, along with additional emergency services personnel, were called to the 13000 block of 29th street located in Pine Grove Township for a reported car-tree personal injury crash. 
     Emergency personnel on scene found all three occupants injured, they were stabilized at the scene.  All were transported to Allegan General Hospital for treatment of their injuries sustained as a result of this traffic crash. 
     Investigation into this crash found that 16 year old Taylor Congdon from Gobles, was traveling westbound on 29th street, during this time the road curves and the driver was unable to keep her vehicle on the roadway.  Once the vehicle left the road it traveled into a heavily wooded area striking a large tree head-on.  The driver, Taylor Congdon, stated to Sheriff deputies that due to the wet road surface she was unable to maintain control and this is what caused this crash. 
     Taylor Congdon was cited for careless driving. 

Investigating Officer:  Sergeant David Walker.
Assisting Agencies:  Gobles/Pine Grove Fire Department and Coloma EMS.
Supervisor contact: On Duty Sergeant or Lt William Lux at 269-657-3101 email

Oct 2009

Incident #:   8190-09.
Incident Type:  Motor vehicle (car/tractor) personal injury crash.
Date and Time:  October 21, 2009 at 7:15 p.m.
Location:  CR388 near 23 1/2 St. Pine Grove Township. 
Vehicle #1:  1996 Plymouth Breeze.
     Driver #1:  Linda Price, 60 years old female from Gobles.
     Injuries to #1:  Price did not have any injuries and refused medical treatment.
     Seat Belt:  Price was wearing her seatbelt.
Vehicle #2:  An Orange Zector, model 5211 farm tractor.
     Driver #2:  Rockie Keely, 62 man from Gobles
     Injuries to #2: Keely received injuries to his head, neck and back. He was taken by ambulance to Allegan Hospital, and then transferred to Bronson Methodist Hospital.
Alcohol Involvement:  There were no indications that alcohol was used by either driver.

Information:   Sheriff Dale R. Gribler reports that Deputies, and additional emergency services personnel, were dispatched to CR 388 near 23 1/2 street in Pine Grove Township for a report of a car versus tractor personnel injury crash.
     Upon arrival on scene, it was determined that both the car and the tractor had been traveling west bound on CR388.  The investigation showed that the car struck the rear end of the tractor, which caused the driver of the tractor to be ejected on to the roadway. Deputies noted that Keely was laying in the roadway upon our arrival, injured, conscious, but very disoriented and did not know what happened, or where he was. The collision also caused the axle on the tractor to break off.   
     Keely was taken by ambulance from the scene to Allegan hospital, where he was later transferred to Bronson Methodist Hospital for medical treatment. The driver of the car, Linda Price, stated she did not see the tractor traveling in front of her.  The conditions at the time of the crash were dark, but the tractor operating with lights on, as was it equipped and had displayed a slow moving vehicle emblem. 
     The crash remains under investigation.

Photos: 
pi 001.jpg  pi 002.jpg  pi 003.jpg  pi 004.jpg  pi 005.jpg  pi 006.jpg  pi 011.jpg  pi 012.jpg  pi 013.jpg 

Investigating Deputies:  Sergeant Walker, Deputy Stolsonburg and Deputy Tarner.
Assisting personnel:  Coloma EMS, and the Van Buren County Road Commission.
Supervisor contact:  On Duty Sergeant or Lt William Lux email at 269-657-3101.

Sep 2009
 

Aug 2009

Incident #:  5962-09
Nature of Incident:  Jet Ski Accident Involving Injuries
Date and Time:  Wednesday August 5, 2009 at 1407 hrs.
Location:  North Lake, Pine Grove Township
Watercraft Involved:  Two 1995 Kawasaki Jet Ski's
     Jet Ski Operator #:  Name Withheld, 15 year old female from Nashville, TN
     Jet Ski Operator #2 & Victim:  Name Withheld, 15 year old female from Nashville, TN

Information:  Sheriff Dale R. Gribler reports that Uniform Response and Marine Patrol Deputies were dispatched by Van Buren County Central Dispatch to a report of a jet ski accident on North Lake in Pine Grove Twp.  Uniform Response arrived on scene and the victim had already been taken to Bronson Hospital in Kalamazoo by a family member in a private vehicle. 
     Through the subsequent investigation and interviews with witnesses, it was determined that boat operator #1 was driving a jet ski and turned in front of a pontoon boat.  After making the turn, operator #1 looked at the passengers on the pontoon boat not seeing operator #2-victim on her jet ski.  Operator #1 ran her jet ski up over the top of operator #2 causing head injury and a laceration to the chin of operator #2.  Operator #1 reported no injuries.  Jet ski's were taken to shore by witnesses.  Operator #1 was ticketed for Careless Operation.  Operator #2 was not ticketed.  Owner of the Jet ski's was also ticketed for allowing illegal operation and failing to register within 15 days of ownership transfer.  Alcohol was not a factor in the accident. 
     The investigation has been turned over to the Van Buren County Prosecutor's Office.

Investigating Deputies:  Deputies Gary Gruss & Rich Rennhack - VBCSO Uniform Response Division,  Marine Deputy Greg Straka Jr. - VBCSO Marine Patrol Division
Supervisor Contact:  On duty Sgt or Marine Patrol Sgt. Chad Jahr at (269) 657-3101 Ext. 272 email,  Lt. William Lux at (269) 657-2006 Ext. 203 email.

Incident #:  5876-09
Incident Type:  Personal Injury Crash.
Date and Time:  August 2, 2009 at 02:30
Location:  31st Street, north of CR 388, Pine Grove Township.
Driver:  24 year old male from Gobles.
Injuries:  Unknown, Air lifted to Borgess.
Vehicle:  1996 Oldsmobile 4/door
Alcohol:  Alcohol is believed to be a factor in the accident

Information: Sheriff Dale R. Gribler reports that deputies were dispatched to a personal injury crash on 31st, north of county road 388 in Pine Grove Township.
     Upon arrival, it was found that the driver of the vehicle had to be extradited by the Jaws of Life.
     Deputies investigated the crash and found that the male driver was traveling north on 31st Street at a high rate of speed. The driver then drove straight through the curve and crashed. The driver was extracted by the Jaws of Life. The driver was then transported by Air Care to Bronson Methodist Hospital for treatment of his injuries. 
     This report is being reviewed by the Prosecutor’s Office.

Assisted Agencies:  Pine Grove Fire Department, Air Care, and Coloma EMS.
Investigating Officers: John Stolsonburg and Ben Downey 269-657-3101, ex 823.
Supervisor Contact: Wayne Polomcak 269-657-3101 ex 85.  Email