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Sheriff Reports - Porter Township, MI





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Jun 2010

Incident No::  4531-10

Nature of Incident:  Operating while Intoxicated – Boating 

Date and Time:   Friday, June 25, 2010 at approximately 11:15 pm 

Location:  Gravel Lake in Porter Township

Boat Operator-Suspect:  18 year old male from New Lenox, IL.  (Name to be released after arraignment) 

Datamaster:   .10 Blood Alcohol Content 

Passengers:   There were 6 additional passengers on the vessel. 

Vehicle Information:   2003 Mastercraft pleasure boat

 

Information:   Sheriff Dale R. Gribler reports that the Van Buren County Sheriff’s Marine Division was on patrol on Gravel Lake in Porter Township on Friday, June 25th, 2010 at approximately 11:15 pm. 
     Marine Deputies made contact with the boat operator while he was operating a pleasure boat with six additional passengers in the late evening hours on Gravel 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:  Marine Deputies Nathan Penning and Daryl McLeese,

Uniform Response Deputy Mark Stickels. 

Supervisor Contact:  On Duty Sergeant (269) 657-3101
 


May 2010


 

Incident #:  3742-10
Nature of Incident:  Boating Accident
Date & Time:
  Sunday May 30, 2010 at approximately 7:39 pm
Location:
 Bankson Lake, Porter Township
Boat Operator #1:  17 year old, white male from Lawton, MI
Watercraft Involved:  1978 Sunkist Jet Boat, minor damage
Victims:
     
#1:
  17 year old, white female from Lawton, MI
      #2: 
 16 year old, white female from Lawton, MI
Alcohol:  Not a factor in the accident.

Information:  Sheriff Dale R. Gribler reports that Marine Deputies were dispatched to Bronson Lakeview Hospital for a boating accident that occurred on Bankson Lake. 
     Upon arrival at the hospital, Marine Deputies made contact with the boat operator.  Operator #1 stated he was attempting to start the boat after refueling.  Victim #1 & Victim #2 were seated in the rear seats of the boat.  The boat continued to drift away from the dock while the operator was trying to start the engine.  Operator #1 stated the engine then back-fired sending flames out of the air vents directly towards the victims.  
     Victims #1 & #2 were taken by a personal vehicle to Bronson Lakeview Hospital in Paw Paw for treatment for minor burns to their arms, back, and face. 

Investigating Deputies:   Marine Deputies Greg Straka Jr. & Mike Hostetler.
Supervisor Contact:   Sgt. Chad Jahr, Marine Division, (269) 657-3101 Ext. 3995, email.
 

Incident No:  3725-10
Nature of Incident:  Operating while Intoxicated – Boating 

Date and Time:  Saturday, May 29, 2010 at approximately 11:40 pm 

Location:  Gravel Lake in Porter Township

Boat Operator - Suspect:  23 year old, Joseph Laski from Lawton MI. 

Datamaster:   .10 Blood Alcohol Content.

Passengers:   There were 6 additional passengers on the vessel. 

Vehicle Information:  2006 Inboard Pleasure boat.

 

Information:  Sheriff Dale R. Gribler reports that the Van Buren County Sheriff’s Marine Division was on patrol on Gravel Lake in Porter Township, on Saturday May 29th, 2010 at approximately 11:40 pm. 
     Marine Deputies made contact with Mr. Laski while he was operating a pleasure boat with six additional passengers in the late evening hours on Gravel Lake.  Marine Deputies found Mr. Laski to be under the influence of alcohol.  Mr. Laski 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 Deputy Jason Fisk and Sgt. Chad Jahr email.

Supervisor Contact:  On Duty Sergeant (269) 657-3101

 


Apr 2010

Incident #:   2485-10
Incident Type: 
  Fishing accident
Date and Time: 
 April 15, 2010  at 10:00 am
Location:  
 Huzzy Lake Public access which is located in the 78000 block of CR 652, Porter Township.
Injured driver:  73 year old Robert Capone, Paw Paw, sustained back injuries to which he sought medical treatment on his own.
Vehicle:   2009 Dodge Ram pickup.  Vehicle sustained water damage as it was nearly completely submerged in the lake.

Information:  Sheriff Dale R. Gribler reports that Van Buren county sheriff deputies along with Lawton police department responded to the public access of Huzzy lake for a 911 call reporting a vehicle submerged in the water and a person yelling for help.  Huzzy Lake boating accident 4-15-10
     Officers on scene noted a 2009 Dodge Ram pickup truck, nearly submerged under water, and 73 year old Robert Capone completely wet as well.  Information from Capone is that he had backed his boat trailer into the lake, having stopped his pickup truck to float the boat off the trailer he then began to exit.  Having not placed the vehicle into park, the pickup truck began traveling backwards pushing Capone into the water.  Capone was able to free himself after going under water. He then got to shore as his pickup floated and sunk out into the lake.  Capone received back injuries as a result of this incident, which he sought medical treatment on his own. 
     McDonalds Tow Service pulled the vehicle out of the water.  DNR was notified in relation to this incident finding, at this time, no water hazard a concern in relation to this vehicle sinking in the lake.
 

Investigating officer:  Sergeant David Walker, Deputy Tony Evans, Uniform Response Division.
Assisting agency:  Lawton Police Department
Supervisor contact:
On Duty Sergeant or Lt William Lux at 269-657-3101, email


Mar 2010

Feb 2010

Jan 2010


Dec 2009

Nov 2009

Oct 2009

Sep 2009

Incident Type:
  Car-Semi Tanker Crash.
Date and Time:
   September 18, 2009 at approximately 2:10 p.m.
Location:
  72000 block of M-40 Hwy, Lawton, in Porter Township.
Incident Number:  7245-09.
Vehicle #1:  1996 Ford Crown Vic. driven by Bruno Mroczek. Sustained passenger side damage.
     Driver #1- Injuries
: Bruno Mroczek, 80 year old male from Decatur. Mroczek received no injuries.
Vehicle #2:  2000 Kenworth and Tanker driven by Michael Caudill. Sustained multiple damage.
     Driver #2-Injuries:  Michael Caudill, 35 year old male from Tekonsha, Michigan. Received no injuries.

Information:   Sheriff Dale R. Gribler reports that Van Buren county sheriff deputies, and additional emergency personnel, were dispatched to a semi-tanker and motor vehicle crash on M-40 near 72nd avenue.
     Deputies on scene discovered that no one was injured in this crash. Deputies investigation into this crash found that the vehicle, driven by Mroczek, was west bound 72nd Avenue, crossing M-40 highway. This driver did not see the semi hauling a fully loaded tanker south bound M-40. The semi could not avoid striking the Ford Crown Victoria passenger car causing the two to crash. The semi trucks tanker, which was full of milk, overturned, broke from the semi unit, and began spilling numerous gallons of milk onto the roadway. The semi tractor unit driver unable to maintain control, went off the road and struck a tree. 
     Traffic on M-40 highway in this area had to be detoured for several hours as the tanker had to be pumped out into another unit and be put back onto its wheels and towed away.  
     Driver of the car, Bruno Mroczek, was found at fault in this crash.

Assisting Agencies: The Lawton Fire Department, Van Buren Emergency Medical Services, Lawton Quick Response, and the Lawton Police Department assisted in this crash. 
Investigating Officers:   K9 Deputy Tony Evans and Deputy Tom Coles.
Supervisor Contact:   On duty Sergeant or Lt. Lux at 269-657-3101.    


Incident Number: 6723-09 update
Sheriff Dale R. Gribler reports that Deputies this date have continued the investigation into the crash on 72nd avenue east of 28th street.  The investigation as of this time does not show alcohol to be a factor.  The passenger, 19 year old Joshua Warr-Morgan is still listed in serious condition at Bronson hospital in Kalamazoo.  The driver identified as 18 year old Zachariah Goodenough from Lawton was treated and released from Bronson hospital as well and is at home resting from injuries he sustained in this crash.   Speed does still show a factor in this crash which continues to be investigated.

Incident Type: Personal Injury Crash.
Date and Time: September 2, 2009 at 1:14 a.m.
Location: 72nd Ave and 28th St., Porter Twp.
Incident Number: 6723-09
Driver: 18 year old male from Lawton (name withheld pending prosecutors office review on this crash investigation).
Passenger: 19 year old Joshua Warr-Morgan.
Drivers Injuries: The driver had injuries to his head and his lower body. Driver was listed in serious condition.
Passenger Injuries: The passenger had serious injuries to his head and was listed in critical condition.
Vehicle: 1994 Ford Escort.
Alcohol:  Alcohol is believed to be a factor in this crash.

Information:  Sheriff Dale Gribler reports that Deputies responded to a crash in the 27000 block of 72nd Ave.
     The Lawton Police Department arrived on scene prior to Deputies' arrival and noticed a young male calling for help. The young male was found to be the driver of the vehicle and severely injured.  The driver advised Deputies that his friend desperately needed help.  The passenger was found laying unconscious on the roadside a short distance from the crash scene. 
     Lawton Quick Response arrived on scene, along with VBEMS, and transported the two victims to the hospital.
     The investigation revealed that the vehicle struck a tree while traveling westbound on 72nd Ave. The car was ripped in half and both the driver and the passenger were ejected from the vehicle.  Speed and alcohol appear to be possible factors resulting in this traffic crash.

Investigating Officer:  Deputy Davis, Ext. 835
Assisting Officers:  Deputy Greg Pentland, Deputy Travis Bernatche
Supervisor Contact:  On duty Sergeant or Lt William Lux at 269-657-3101.


Aug 2009

Jul 2009

Jun 2009

I
ncident Type:  Domestic Violence Assault, Manufacture-Possession of Marijuana.
Date and Time:  June 26, 2009 at 11:18 PM.
Location:  27177 Hayne Rd. in Porter Township.
Incident #:  4746-09.
Suspect:  Kevin Randall Verhage, 49 years old from Lawton.
Victim:  Gabrielle Lynn Jordan, 29 years old from Lawton.

Information:  Sheriff Dale R. Gribler reports that Deputies were dispatched to Hayne Rd. in Porter Township for a domestic assault. Upon arrival on scene, Deputies located a 49 year old male and a 29 year old female that had been involved in a domestic assault. Upon further investigation, Deputies determined that a domestic violence assault had occurred and the suspect, Verhage, was subsequently placed under arrest.
     It was then learned, that both of the subjects had outstanding warrants for their arrest, Kevin’s warrant was a Friend of the Court warrant and Gabrielle had two Misdemeanor warrants one out of Kalamazoo Public Safety and one out of Richland PD. There was also one additional subject at the scene and, upon questioning him for information in regards to the assault that had occurred, Deputies noted a strong odor of marijuana plants or material. Deputies then discovered a flat bed truck parked near the investigation scene and it contained approximately 60 potted marijuana plants with growing apparatus lighting. The suspect was later interrogated in reference to the marijuana plants.
     Following the interrogation, the Van Buren Narcotics Unit obtained a search warrant for further investigation of the residence and the buildings within the scene. Deputies then executed the search warrant and additional materials and growing apparatus were located within the spectrum of the search warrant boundaries. The third unnamed subject may be involved and further investigation into the incident will continue.

Investigating Deputies: Sergeant Harvey, Deputy Stickels, Deputy Pentland, Narcotics Detective Sergeant Dietz, Detective Perkins.
Assisting Agency: Lawton Police Department.

Sergeant Dennis Harvey
Uniform Response Division
Van Buren County Sheriff's Office
205 S. Kalamazoo St.
Paw Paw, MI 49079
Telephone: (269) 657-3101 ext. 811
Click here to email Sergeant Harvey

 

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