Police Arrest 76 Involved in Cock Fighting

Two of the 145 fighting cocks are rounded up to be euthanized

It was a scene reminiscent of an old time western movie. Police from throughout the County and State rounded up 76 individuals involved in “cock fighting”. The arrests were made on Saturday morning at 0480 North 100 West in Starke County.

Law enforcement officers were responding to an anonymous tip.

“The Sheriff’s Department received an anonymous tip of animal fighting contests out at a residence on 100 West,” stated Starke County Chief Deputy, Bill Dulin. “Along with the Sheriff’s Department, we responded with the Indiana Conservation Units, State Police, Knox City Police, and North Judson units. When we got there, we noticed 10 or 15 vehicles and when we approached, 50 to 60 people took off running toward a river in an open field.”

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Knox City Police Department Investigates Theft of Steel from Railroad

The Knox City Police Department is investigating the theft of steel from the Norfolk and Southern Rail property on US 35 in Knox.

On Tuesday, February 15th, the police department received a complaint of individuals stealing metal from the property. Shortly after the call, a deputy from the Starke County Sheriff’s Department located the suspect vehicle southbound on US 35 and conducted a traffic stop. The stolen property was recovered in the suspect vehicle. Two North Judson men were arrested in the incident and taken to the Starke County Jail. They have preliminary charges of Theft and Trespass on Railroad Property.

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Knox City Police Arrest Knox Woman on Drug Charges

Dawn Mann

Knox City Police arrested Dawn Mann, of Knox, on preliminary charges of False Informing and Possession of Methamphetamine after a Monday traffic stop.

Knox police officers conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle driven by Jason Johnson of Knox. Police found that Jason had a warrant and arrested him. Since the passenger was drinking, she was allowed to contact someone to drive her home. The officer released the woman who said her name was Dawn Johnson. It was later discovered Dawn Johnson was actually Dawn Mann and she had several warrants through Starke and Marshall Counties.

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Knox City Police Department Statistics for January

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

Knox City Police Chief, Clint Norem, has released the January statistics from the Police Department.

The Department received 376 calls and investigated 15 accidents. There were 7 Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated arrests and 2 Public Intoxication arrests. 10 people were arrested on 15 traffic charges and 25 people were arrested on 54 criminal charges. One person was arrested on a battery charge and 5 people were arrested on active warrants. 17 drug charges were filed.

Knox City Police Department Statistics for December and for 2010

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

Knox City Police Chief, Clint Norem, has released the Department’s December statistics. The Department had 370 calls, 11 accident reports and 18 incident reports. There were 7 Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated reports and 1 Public Intoxication report. 12 people were arrested on 15 traffic charges, 29 people were arrested on 55 criminal charges, 5 juveniles were arrested on 6 charges, and 3 people were cited for ordinance violations.

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New Starke County Prosecutor Talks about Upcoming Cases

Nicholas Bourff

Nicholas Bourff is the new Starke County Prosecutor, taking over from Julianne Havens. Ted Hayes sat down with Bourff last week and talked to him about a number of topics. In the interview, Bourff announced his staff including his First Deputy, Todd Wallsmith.

One of the questions Ted asked Bourff was what he will do with cases that are active, been filed by the former prosecutor, but have not been adjudicated.

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Police Officers to Patrol Indiana Roadways for Impaired Drivers during the New Year’s Day Holiday

Police officers will be out during the New Year’s Day holiday weekend and they will be on the lookout for drunk drivers. Jeremiah Patrick, Coordinator of the Starke County Traffic Safety Partnership, reports that officers from the organization will be out in force this weekend. The Starke County Traffic Safety Partnership includes officers from the Starke County Sheriff’s Department, Knox City Police Department and the North Judson Police Department. Officers from the LaPorte County Sheriff’s Department will also be out in force to help detect drunk drivers.

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Knox City Police Department Receives New Cameras and Thermal Imagers

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

The Knox City Police Department recently received new cameras and thermal imagers for the squad cars. Three cameras were received and two have been installed. The third camera will be installed in the last squad car in the near future.

“The cameras are activated on traffic stops,” explained Knox City Chief, Clint Norem. “We have ours hooked into the light system so once an officer activates his overhead lights, the camera system will start recording. The interesting feature with this system is it actually records between 30 and 60 seconds prior to the lights being activated. You may be able to catch the actual incident that occurred that led up to the traffic stop. In accident situations, there is a setting the camera that should the vehicle be involved in an accident, it will actually record 60 seconds prior to the accident. It’s a great benefit for not only the officers, but also the public.”

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Starke County Commissioners Discuss Prosecutor’s Claims

Julianne Havens discusses claims with the Starke County Commissioners

The discussion between the Starke County Commissioners and outgoing Prosecutor Julianne Havens came to an amicable agreement Monday night. Havens had earlier submitted claims for law enforcement needs and the Commissioners questioned whether the funding was appropriate for the funding source. Havens, herself, eliminated some of the items from questionable categories.

“It gets complicated because I can use the IV-D fund for child support enforcement and for five years I’ve been using it to support child support,” explained Prosecutor Havens. “This year, I was going to try and focus on the enforcement aspect of it which, to me, means police. They agreed with my argument. However, they indicated that if an audit were to happen, the way they look at it is a proportional nexus. They are going to look at it whether or not the police are out supporting child support, making arrests, picking up people on body attachments and things of that nature. Their fear is that the proportionate nexus is not going to be enough for them to say that these funds that were spent were reasonable.”

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Week in Review for December 13th-17th, 2010

Here is just some of the news that made the news in the Kankakee Valley this week:

IHS Board of Trustees Chair Thomas Hoback and Marvin Allen

Marvin Allen of Knox is this year’s recipient of the Indiana Historical Society’s Hubert Hawkins History Award. The award is made annually to a local historian for his or her distinguished service and career in local history.

Picture provided by Hensler Nursery

Two trees from Hensler Nursery were delivered to the Statehouse this week.

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Extensive Damage Done at Knox Community Center

Knox Community Center

The Knox City Police are investigating damage done to the Knox Community Center after a Saturday event at the facility. During Tuesday night’s Knox City Council meeting, Clerk-Treasurer, Jeff Houston, told the Council that 112 chairs were damaged, the dance floor was ruined and 25 of the 32 tables were damaged. The carpets were stained and the walls had marks on them.

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Knox City Police Department Statistics for November

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

Knox City Police Chief, Clint Norem, has released the Department’s statistics for the month of November.

The Department had 443 calls, 11 accident reports and 44 incident reports. There were 5 Operating a Vehicle While Intoxicated Reports, 18 people arrested on 21 traffic charges, 36 people arrested on 58 criminal charges, 8 juveniles arrested on various charges and 4 people cited for 4 ordinance violations. 5 battery arrests and 4 warrant arrests were made and 17 drug charges were filed.

Two Knox Residents Arrested on Methamphetamine Charges

Carl Daughtery
Carl Daughtery

Knox City Police officers arrested two Knox residents on methamphetamine related charges.

On Friday, November 26th, Knox City Police were notified of possible methamphetamine activity at 424 W. Maple Drive in Knox. Police arrived at that location and asked the homeowner, Robert James, if they could search the residence. Police then asked a resident in the home, Carl Daughtery, if they could search the residence. Both consented to a search. Knox City Police Officers reportedly found items in Daughtery’s room that are commonly used with the manufacture of methamphetamine and remnants of the finished product. Receipts for the items were also found in Daughtery’s room.

Stephanie Daughtery
Stephanie Daughtery

Carl Daughtery was arrested on preliminary charges of Possession of an Illegal drug Lab and Possession of Methamphetamine. Daughtery’s wife, Stephanie Daughtery, was also arrested and has preliminary charges of Possession of Illegal Drug Lab, Possession of Methamphetamine and Resisting Law Enforcement. Stephanie had gone to another location after police arrived at the home.

Knox City K9 Officer Introduces new K9 to City Council

Chad Keen and Marco #2
Officer Chad Keen speaks to the Knox City Council
Greg Matt and Marco
Marco greets Knox City Councilman, Greg Matt

K9 Officer Chad Keen and K9 Marco appeared at the recent Knox City Council meeting. Officer Keen recently finished training with K9 Marco at the Von Liche Kennels in Denver, Indiana. Marco detects all types of narcotics and can trackpeople as well. Marco is a two-year-old Belgian Tervuren and met the Knox City Council for the first time at the Council’s meeting on November 23rd. This is the third K9 to be part of the Knox City Police Department.

The final walk-through was done at the Wastewater Treatment Facility to close out the City’s grant for that rehabilitation project. A curb needs to be replaced and then the project will be complete.

The Council also got a tonnage report on the refuse and recycling service from the garbage contractors. In July, 137 tons was the highest amount of refuse collected in 2010. The lowest amount of refuse collected was in January at 83.6 tons. 27.2 tons of recyclable material was collected in July, the most collected in 2010.

Starke County Traffic Safety Partnership honored at Recent OPO Awards Banquet

Over the Limit, Under Arrest

The Starke County Traffic Safety Partnership was among several law enforcement agencies who were recently honored during the 16th Annual Operation Pull Over Awards Banquet in Carmel, Indiana.

The Starke County Traffic Safety Partnership received an award for Outstanding OPO Partnership. The organization also received a $2,500 Equipment Award to be used for the purchase of law enforcement equipment of their choice. The TSP members include the Knox City Police Department, North Judson Police Department, and the Starke County Sheriff’s Department.