Michigan State Police

BERRIEN SPRINGS, Mich. - Michigan State police are investigating a multi-car crash that happened on Old U.S. 31 in Berrien County Wednesday afternoon. It happened just north of Berrien Springs, and police are urging drivers to avoid that area. 3 people were trapped. All were taken to Lakeland Hospital in St. Joseph. Berrien Springs and Orinoko police were called to the scene. Police say Old 31 was expected to be blocked to traffic because of the wreck until at least 7 p.m.

EDWARDSBURG, Mich. - A truck and Hummer collided just west of Edwardsburg late Wednesday afternoon sending at least 2 people to the hospital. It happened around 5:15 at U.S. 12 and Conrad Road. Michigan State Police say the injuries were minor. Police say the truck was heading west on 12, while the H2 was going north. Traffic is again being allowed to flow through that intersection after it was closed for awhile.

Police are looking for three suspects who robbed a store in Van Buren County late Monday afternoon, then fled with the cash. The robbery happened about 5:40 p.m. EST at the Keeler General Store, according to Michigan State Police at the Paw Paw post. Three partially masked suspects, armed with a gun as well as baseball bats, entered the store and demanded the cash. The clerk was then ordered to get down on the ground as the suspects left. Police continue their search for the three, who were seen leaving in a dark two-door sedan.

Michigan State Police are investigating whether a deadly shooting minutes into the New Year was accidental. Jose Mercedes Ramirez-Velazquez died after being shot in the chest during a party at his home, 1738 Cass St., Niles, according to a Michigan State Police-Niles Post news release. When police arrived, Ramirez-Velazquez was lying in the driveway. He was taken to Lakeland Hospital where he was pronounced dead. Police were called at 12:19 a.m. and quickly learned a neighbor brought the handgun to the party.

Michigan State Police are offering a reward for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible for lighting a Three Rivers church on fire two years ago. Police say the March 5, 2009 fire at Monumental North Missionary Baptist Church on U.S. 131 was ruled arson by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives. Rewards of up to $10,000 are being offered for information that will help the investigation. Call the Michigan State Police White Pigeon Post at 269-483-7611 or the Michigan Arson Prevention Committee at 1-800-44 ARSON.

NILES, Mich. - Michigan State Police are investigating a serious two-car crash in Cass County. Authorities say a vehicle driven by 45-year-old Larry Pierce of Niles failed to yield the right of way and turned in front of a truck. It happened around 6:15 a.m. Friday on East Main Street near Reum Road in Milton Township. Pierce was rushed to Memorial Hospital in South Bend where he was in intensive care. Police say both drivers were not wearing their seat belts.

A Niles police officer faces charges for criminal sexual conduct involving a 19-year-old male inmate. That is what Michigan State Police and Niles police revealed during a 4 p.m. press conference Monday. Ivery Cross, who is currently suspended from duty pending the outcome of the investigation, is preliminarily charged with one count of first degree criminal sexual conduct, two counts of second degree criminal sexual conduct, and one count of obstructing justice. WSBT learned criminal sexual conduct in the first degree means there was some type of penetration involved.

WHITE PIGEON, Mich. - We could learn more today about the death of a man at a paper mill in St. Joseph County, Michigan. It happened around noon Sunday at the White Pigeon Paper Company. Michigan State Police say the 61-year-old sustained a "fatal injury" but didn't provide any details, although WOOD-TV reports the victim fell into a vat at the paper company. It's unclear if the man died of natural causes or something work-related. An autopsy is planned.

DETROIT (AP) — Authorities say a woman who went into labor gave birth on the side of a Detroit freeway while trying to make it to a hospital. Michigan State Police tell the Detroit Free Press and The Detroit News that dispatchers were called about 4:45 a.m. Tuesday. Trooper Mike Zarate says a Detroit EMS crew got to the scene along Interstate 94 and assisted in the delivery of the baby. Zarate says "everybody's healthy. " He says the mother and baby were taken to Henry Ford Hospital.

RIVER ROUGE, Mich. (AP) - Police in the Detroit suburb of River Rouge are seeking people involved in the fatal shooting of a convenience store co-owner. Radio station WWJ and television stations WJBK, WDIV and WXYZ report that the man in his 50s was locking up the Stars Liquor store late Sunday night when he was killed. Police say it was a robbery attempt. Michigan State Police are assisting River Rouge police in the investigation. The store is near the city's border with Detroit.