Crime

Cass County residents now have free access to timely and official crime data through http://www.crimereports.com/# and an iPhone app. “Providing reliable, timely information to our citizens is one of our top priorities,” said Sheriff Joseph Underwood Jr., via a news release. Cass County police agencies providing information include the sheriff’s department, Cassopolis, Dowagiac and Ontwa Township-Edwardsburg police. Cass County joins more than 1,600 law enforcement agencies across the country that share crime information online to the public.

On the web: Go to ccso.info and click on the “submit a tip” link. https://www.tipsubmit.com/WebTips.aspx?AgencyID=848Tipsters will get a user name and password that keeps them anonymous. The county’s standard crime tip hotline will remain in use. It can be reached by calling 800-462-9328.

CONSTANTINE, Mich. - A southwest Michigan teacher was not in her classroom today, as police investigate an alleged sex crime involving 5-year-olds. Parents at East Side Middle School in Constantine, which is in St. Joseph County, say they received a letter informing them that police were investigating a “sexual crime” that happened between 5-year-old boys. The letter explains the act happened in a kindergarten classroom but did not say exactly what happened. The school says one other child may have been involved.

SOUTH BEND – A South Bend man suspected of stealing cosmetics from the CVS on Portage Avenue reportedly forgot something Saturday while fleeing the scene: his 10-year-old son. According to police, the 35-year-old left the boy standing at the entrance to the store after the alarm sounded as he attempted to leave with the stolen merchandise. Police searched the area but were not able to find the father. The boy was reportedly returned to the custody of a female relative.

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (AP) - A western Michigan woman accused of offering a 2-year-old relative for sale on eBay has been charged with attempting to obtain money through false pretenses. Kent County Prosecutor William Forsyth says investigators don't believe Autumn Braden actually wanted to sell the child. But he says the 19-year-old from Allendale Township was having financial problems in May. Braden occasionally watched the child, who is a cousin. The Grand Rapids Press says Braden is due in court Wednesday.

SOUTH BEND - For Carmen Garrett, the latest crime near Calvert Street may have been terrible to hear about, but it was certainly no surprise. “There’s always noise and something happening around here,” she said. Saturday night it was the robbery and attack of two teen-agers, 15 and 16 years old. Police say the two were dragged into a vacant house, choked, stabbed, and robbed. They were taken to a hospital where they were treated and released. Police said the incident was not random, but they do get many calls for service in the near south-east side neighborhood, also home to Riley High School.

A Mishawaka High School wrestler was in court Friday and admitted to interfering with the reporting of a crime, the sexual assault of a fellow wrestler. That admission would be the adult equivalent of a misdemeanor. In response to the teen's admission, two other charges against this wrestler were dropped after evidence showed he was not present at the time of the assault. He will be back in court June 4. So far, this brings to four the number of Mishawaka wrestlers who have either pleaded guilty or been found guilty in this case.

ELKHART — City officials say their fight against crime is working. Jean Robinson calls the city of Elkhart her home, and she's starting to feel safer. She says crime has gotten better over the past couple of years. “I do believe that's true, because I see officers all the time, coming and going, and before we didn't see that.” Corporal Norm Friend patrols her neighborhood. The department implemented a new program to make officers more familiar with their beat. “We have gone to the “area” concept, so that guys are able to go and know certain areas much better by working the same area continually,” said Friend Two years ago, Mayor Dick Moore campaigned on putting a major dent in crime.

SOUTH BEND - For the vast majority of the day Saturday, police continued to maintain a presence outside the home where a South Bend 10-year-old named Tramelle Sturgis died.  The boy's father, 35-year-old Terry Sturgis,  is in jail charged with murdering his son. Police discovered the vicious crime early Friday morning in the 1100 block of West Washington Street where Sturgis lived. According to court documents, Sturgis beat Tramelle...

All day we've been talking about dangerous places for women. Next, we'll examine the dangers of parking lots and we sit down with WSBT's Cindy Ward for a firsthand experience of her scary crime moment in a parking lot.

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - A 15-year-old boy who police say took part in a string of robberies and the shooting of two Indianapolis men may find out next month whether he will be tried as an adult. The three-day hearing will begin May 28 in Marion County juvenile court, The Indianapolis Star reports (http://indy.st/11JdMaV). The 15-year-old and a 17-year-old face charges including murder and attempted murder. Both were arrested in February following a two-day crime spree that ended in a four-vehicle crash.

INDIANAPOLIS (AP) - The proposed overhaul of Indiana's criminal sentencing laws could get tougher penalties for marijuana possession and dealing after Gov. Mike Pence said he wanted it stricter on low-level drug offenders. A state Senate committee is expected to vote Thursday on increasing the felony and misdemeanor levels of the marijuana crimes. That is part of a broad plan that aims to direct more people convicted of low-level felonies to work release and other local programs rather than sending them to prison.

HAMMOND, Ind. (AP) - The daughter of the founder of a northwestern Indiana megachurch has issued an apology for the former pastor's sexual relationship with an underage church girl he was counseling. The Times of Munster reported Tuesday ( http://bit.ly/10epqZ2 ) that Linda Murphrey issued statements last week and Monday for not speaking out about what she called abuses at First Baptist Church of Hammond. Murphrey's brother-in-law, former Pastor Jack Schaap, was sentenced to 12 years in prison last week after pleading guilty to transporting a minor with the intent to engage in criminal sexual activity.

Mishawaka is the latest community to start uploading crime reports to an interactive online map, which helps explain those flashing lights you might've seen in your neighborhood. The website, www.CrimeReports.com , displays a colored icon on blocks where police investigated thefts, assaults, homicides, traffic emergencies, fires, and other calls. The map, which is updated three times a day, also shows the names, addresses, and photos of registered sex offenders.

WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. (AP) - Purdue University reported the second-highest number of hate crimes among the country's colleges last year, according to statistics compiled by the FBI. The seven alleged hate crimes reported on the West Lafayette campus in 2011 were the most among Indiana colleges, the Journal & Courier reported Sunday ( http://on.jconline.com/UVP9D1 ). So far in 2012, Purdue police have documented 12 hate crimes. The FBI report said five of the incidents reported at Purdue reflected racial bias and two were related to religion.

New statistics show most crime in South Bend is down this year compared to last. The problem is the one that is up is murder. CLICK HERE TO SEE THE STATISTICS The drops include rape, robbery, aggravated assault, burglary, larceny, car theft, and arson. Some of those cases are down by as much as 20 percent. But last year there were nine murders in South Bend through November. This year there were 15 through November and there have also been two more murders this month.

CONSTANTINE, Mich. - A southwest Michigan teacher was not in her classroom today, as police investigate an alleged sex crime involving 5-year-olds. Parents at East Side Middle School in Constantine, which is in St. Joseph County, say they received a letter informing them that police were investigating a “sexual crime” that happened between 5-year-old boys. The letter explains the act happened in a kindergarten classroom but did not say exactly what happened. The school says one other child may have been involved.

Police say 21 local gang members are off the streets and crime is down because of it. St. Joseph County Prosecutor Mike Dvorak credited several area police agencies Wednesday and awarded six South Bend Police officers for their efforts.  The specific gang police targeted is called "Cash Out Boyz. "  In Spring 2011, officers noticed a trend in robberies, home invasions, burglaries and murders in South Bend. The department dedicated five officers to work together with other departments and the prosecutor's office to solve dozens of cases and get the Cash Out Boyz off the streets.

MISHAWAKA - People across Michiana got the chance to talk with police about safety concerns in their neighborhoods during the “National Night Out Against Crime.” The annual event, which was held Tuesday night, brings together community members and local police departments across the country. Police say it's important to have a good relationship with the public. They say neighbors play a big role in helping keep their own communities safe. “We rely on them to be our eyes and ears,” said Mishawaka Police Lieutenant Tim Williams.

A Mishawaka High School wrestler was in court Friday and admitted to interfering with the reporting of a crime, the sexual assault of a fellow wrestler. That admission would be the adult equivalent of a misdemeanor. In response to the teen's admission, two other charges against this wrestler were dropped after evidence showed he was not present at the time of the assault. He will be back in court June 4. So far, this brings to four the number of Mishawaka wrestlers who have either pleaded guilty or been found guilty in this case.