Knox Resident Arrested on Cocaine Charges

Gerald Boyd

Gerald Boyd, of Knox, was arrested on Saturday on cocaine related charges.

A Knox City Police officer was out on routine patrol when he saw Gerald Boyd. The officer ran his information and found he had a valid warrant for his arrest through Starke Circuit Court. When officers conducted a pat-down, the officer noticed something in a small pocket near his waist. Boyd then turned to run from police. As he turned, the officer grabbed the small pocket and ripped it open. Something reportedly fell out of the pocket. Boyd was apprehended and taken to the Starke County Jail. Police found seven small bags that had come out of his pocket and a straw, according to the report. Inside the baggies was a white powdery substance that field tested positive for cocaine.

Continue reading

18-Year-Old Drowns After Jumping From Yellow River Bridge in Knox

The treacherous Yellow River has claimed another life. Mercan Lyncook, of Parma Ohio jumped from the abandoned train bridge near the depot at 12:00 midnight Sunday morning, and because of limited swimming ability never made it back to shore. The 18-year-old man’s body was found by the Marshall County Dive Team at 2:00 a.m.

The Knox Police Department and Indiana Conservation Office received a call from Lyncook’s friend that he did not surface after diving into the water.

Assisting in the search were the Knox Volunteer Fire Department, Bass Lake Fire Department, Starke County Sheriff’s Department, Washington Township Fire Department, and Starke County EMS.

Knox City Police Department Acquires Hummer

Knox City Police Department Hummer

The Knox City Police Department recently acquired a 1985 Hummer from the Federal Surplus Property Acquisition Program that Police Chief Clint Norem said they received at no cost to the Department.

“Any property that the Federal Government has or has purchased and no longer needs is made available to law enforcement agencies throughout the United States,” explained Norem. “In order to acquisition this property, we submit an application to them and once approved, we’re assigned an ID and we can go to a website and review this property. Anything that can be used by our department, we submit the request. Once they review it and we can provide a reason of how we can use it and they agree with that, then they will allow us to pick up the property.” Continue reading

Herman Hopkins Arrested on Charges of Burglary, Battery

Herman Hopkins

Officers from the Knox City Police Department arrested a Knox man on several charges, including Burglary, Saturday night.

Herman Hopkins is suspected of entering the home of Virginia Neace on Ellis Street and battering her son, Kenneth Neace. The Neace family also reported items missing from the home. When Hopkins was taken into custody, police found him in possession of mechanic’s gloves, a walkman tape player and headphones, an electronic car charger, radar detector, needle-nose pliers, a Sears Craftsman lawnmower key, batteries, and loose change. Kenneth Neace was taken to IU Health Starke Hospital for an evaluation of his injuries.

Continue reading

Knox City Police Investigates Burglary at ALCO

The Knox City Police Department is investigating a burglary at the ALCO store in the Knox Mall.

According to police, on Tuesday, May 24th, officers were called to ALCO in reference to a burglary. Officers arrived on scene and found the glass in the south entry door broken out. The K9 unit was sent inside but no suspects were found in the store. Police found that a glass case containing video game systems was broken and game systems were stolen. When police reviewed the security tape, officers saw the suspect was wearing a ski mask, gloves and a hooded sweatshirt at the time of the incident and could not identify him. If you know anything about this incident, you may call in an anonymous tip to the Knox City Police Department at (574) 772-4122.

Starke County Law Enforcement to Participate in Operation Pull Over Blitz

The Starke County Sheriff’s Department, Hamlet Police Department, Knox City Police Department and the North Judson Police Department will be participating in an Operation Pull Over Blitz that begins today and goes through June 5th. Officers will be on extra patrols to conduct a campaign on seat belt safety.

This enforcement period is designed to save lives and the officers encourage all occupants in a vehicle to wear their seat belts. Anyone not wearing their seat belt when stopped by police will receive a ticket. 250 other police agencies throughout the state will be focusing on this seat belt enforcement. Officers will also be watching for drivers who follow too closely, make unsafe lane changes, drive aggressively, fail to properly restrain children in child seats, and operate a vehicle while impaired.

Knox City, North Judson Police Department Statistics for April

police badge

Knox City Police Chief, Clint Norem, says the Department handled 396 calls in the month of April, investigated 6 accidents and filed 36 incident reports.

19 people were arrested on 24 traffic charges, 50 people were arrested on 66 criminal charges and 2 people were cited for 2 ordinance violations. There were 7 battery arrests, 10 warrant arrests and 11 drug arrests made in April.

Continue reading

Starke County Sheriff’s Department, Knox City Police Keeping Eye on Gas Prices

The national average of a gallon of regular gasoline is over the $4.00 mark and that hurts the pocketbook of all consumers in the United States. It also affects the fuel line item in County, City and Town budgets.

Starke County Sheriff, Oscar Cowen, told WKVI that the Sheriff’s Department staff is keeping an eye on the prices, but services to the citizens will not diminish because gas prices are high. He said that when we saw a spike in prices in 2008, the Sheriff’s Department made it through and hopes to come within the fuel budget this time around.

Continue reading

Starke County Safety Partnership to Participate in Truck Seatbelt Enforcement

The Starke County Traffic Safety Partnership will be conducting a Rural Demonstration Project beginning Friday, April 29th through Sunday, May 15th. This is a special grant to be used for truck seatbelt enforcement.

During the Traffic Safety Partnership’s last enforcement blitz, 10 officers spent 41 hours on increased traffic patrol. 4 seat belt citations were given, 1 misdemeanor DUI arrest was made, 1 criminal misdemeanor arrest was made, 1 criminal felony arrest was made and 14 speed violations were recorded. 47 traffic warnings were issued with a total of 65 vehicles being stopped. The enforcement ran from February 26th through March 4th.

Continue reading

Two Vehicle Accident at Culver Road and US 35 in Knox Injures Two

The Knox City Police Department investigated a two vehicle accident that occurred shortly before 1:00 p.m. today at the intersection of Culver Road and US 35 in Knox.

According to City Police Officer, Chad Dulin, Sharon Button, of Winamac, was traveling southbound on US 35 when she reportedly disregarded the stoplight at the intersection and struck a vehicle driven by Dalerie Ford of Knox. Ford was traveling westbound through the intersection when the accident occurred.

Continue reading

Knox Man Arrested after Leaving Children Alone in a Home

Curtis Bradley

A Knox man was arrested Wednesday after police found he left his children unattended in a home.

According to the police report, the Starke County Sheriff’s Department received a call that a person in a red truck was doing donuts in the parking lot at the Oak Estates apartments. The Knox City Police Department officer called to the scene didn’t find anyone there at the time, but the officer did locate the suspect vehicle at 345 Ruthie Drive with one of the rear truck tires on fire. The reporting officer noted that there was a pile of melted rubber behind the tire and there was a large skid mark in the road. The officer approached the residence and found Curtis Bradley in the home and asked if the truck outside was his and Bradley confirmed it was his. The officer told him that the truck was on fire and they went outside to the truck. Bradley reportedly tried to touch the burning tire and the officer pulled him back so he wouldn’t injure himself. Bradley then started to swing his arms at the officer wanting to fight. The officer told him to put his hands behind his back and Bradley resisted. After some force, Bradley was taken into custody. The fire department was called to extinguish the fire.

Continue reading

Two Knox Residents Arrested after Children Found at Home with No Adult Supervision

Daniel Pastorcik

Two Knox residents were arrested Friday after police found that two children were left in their apartment with no adult supervision.

Tiffany Pastorcik

According to the Knox City Police report, a small five year old child was found by Roosevelt Road in Knox by a neighbor. She called police where she said she found the boy crying looking for his mother. The child led police to the apartment where he lives on Ruthie Drive. Police found the home to be a mess and another small child was in the residence with no adult supervision. Police called CPS and left the premises after they arrived. Police found Daniel Pastorcik, the children’s father, driving in his vehicle that began traveling at a high rate of speed. Police conducted a traffic stop and called in the K9 unit to assist. The K9 indicated on the presence of narcotics in the passenger seat.

Continue reading

Knox City Police Department Officers Alert for Mobile Meth Labs during Traffic Stops

Knox City Police Chief Clint Norem

Elkhart police were hospitalized after they found a mobile meth lab in a vehicle and inhaled the chemicals that are used in the manufacture of the drug. WKVI talked with Knox City Police Chief, Clint Norem, and he said that officers don’t know what they’re going to come up against when they conduct a traffic stop:

Continue reading

Knox City Police Department Offers Tip Line

The Knox City Police Department is offering an anonymous tip line to give residents the opportunity to call in crime tips for police.

According to City Police Chief Clint Norem, when you call the Police Department at (574) 772-4122, you will have an option to speak to an on-duty officer, leave a message for an officer, or leave an anonymous tip. Chief Norem said residents who choose the anonymous tip line can leave a message about drug activity, break-ins, thefts, burglaries, or information on individuals wanted on warrants, and an officer will follow through with an investigation.

Knox Resident Reports Purse, Car Stolen

police badge

Sandy Hansen of Knox is missing her purse…and her car.

According to police documents, on Tuesday, March 1st, Sandy left her purse under the front desk in the Starke County Abstract office in downtown Knox and she went on break between 10:00 and 11:00 a.m. When she returned, her purse was gone. She searched the office and could not find her purse. She called police to report the theft.

Continue reading

Knox City Police Department Report for February

Knox City Police Chief Clint Norem
Knox City Police Chief Clint Norem

Knox City Police Chief, Clint Norem, reports that in the month of February, the Department had 316 calls, responded to 11 accidents and completed 21 incident reports.

13 people were arrested on 20 traffic charges, 23 people were arrested on 31 criminal charges and 2 juveniles were arrested. Of those arrests, 2 included Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated charges, 1 Public Intoxication charge, 3 were Battery charges, 5 were active arrest warrants and 7 involved drug charges. No ordinance violations were reported in the month of February.