A former employee of the Starke County Sheriff’s Department has agreed to plead guilty to wire fraud in federal court.
Continue readingPlea agreement filed in Pamela McDonald case
More Details Released on Hamlet Meth Bust
A meth bust at a home a couple doors down from the Hamlet Police Station led to the arrest of the two residents last week. The Starke County Prosecutor’s Office has shared more details about Friday’s drug raid at 7 West Pearl Street.
Continue readingTwo Arrested after Drug Raid Reportedly Turns Up Meth, Narcotics
A drug raid by Hamlet and Starke County police resulted in two arrests. Hamlet Police say a search warrant was executed at a “suspected drug house” early Friday morning, as part of a joint operation with the Starke County Sheriff’s Department.
Continue readingParolee Back in Custody on Charges of Criminal Confinement, Battery, Rape
A Starke County man was arrested, after police were called to assist state parole officers Friday. The Starke County Sheriff’s Office says deputies were told that a woman claimed she’d been held captive and battered by Tracy Kell, 42, who was on parole. Deputies say that during the investigation, they found evidence that led to Kell’s arrest.
Continue readingHamlet Police Report Finding Cocaine, Meth, Handgun during U.S. 30 Traffic Stop
A Hamlet traffic stop led to a pair of arrests, after officers say they found drugs and a loaded handgun. It happened just after 1:30 Sunday morning at U.S. 30 and County Road 600 East, according to a probable cause affidavit provided by the Starke County Prosecutor’s Office.
Continue readingUndercover Drug Investigation Produces Warrant, Suspect Arrested
A North Judson resident is in the Starke County Jail after a drug investigation by undercover narcotics officers.
Continue readingThe F.A.R.M Program at the Starke County Justice Center Continues to Grow!
The garden at the Starke County Justice Center has quadrupled in size compared to last year thanks to the dedicated efforts of jail staff and the trustees who participate in the Fostering a Recovery Mentality or F.A.R.M. Program. Continue reading
Initial Hearing Held in Starke Circuit Court for Plymouth Teen Facing Multiple Felony Charges
A Plymouth man accused of rape, sexual misconduct with a minor, and child exploitation appeared in Starke Circuit Court Friday.
Court documents say that Thomas D. Holloway, who was 18 at the time, apparently took a group of juveniles to a residence in Starke County near Culver, on or around July 3, 2017.
There, he allegedly had sexual intercourse with a 15-year-old while she was “unaware that the sexual intercourse was occurring”, according to criminal information provided by Starke County Circuit Court. The minor was reportedly intoxicated at the time. Holloway is also accused of taking a picture and videos of the victim during the alleged incident. Continue reading
Starke County Justice Center Garden Expands, Trustees Start Planting for the Season
The Starke County Justice Center gardening program continues to grow!
According to Therapeutic Community Coordinator and Jail Warden Phil Cherry, the garden has quadrupled in size since last year. Justice Center has received multiple awards for the garden and the program in the three years since it’s been implemented.
Despite the dreary weather Thursday morning, a handful of trustees were out planting some “cold weather” items such as onions and potatoes. Though only about 6 inmates were working on this task, Warden Cherry shared that anywhere from 30 to 40 individuals will eventually be involved. Continue reading
Starke County Jail Offers Green Thumb Gardening Class as a Part of F.A.R.M Program
According to Starke County Sheriff Bill Dulin, more than 30 jail inmates recently started a gardening class instructed by Starke County Purdue Extension Educator Phil Woolery.
Sheriff Dulin shared that a total of 32 inmates will be attending the month-long class where Woolery will teach lessons about agriculture, horticulture and other skills related to botany.
He said the “green thumb” gardening class is a part of a Starke County Jail program called F.A.R.M., which is an acronym that stands for Focusing A Recovery Mindset. Continue reading
Seven Arrested after Distress Call
Seven people were arrested shortly before 3 a.m. CT Wednesday after Starke County dispatchers received a 911 call from a woman yelling for help.
The dispatchers were reportedly unable to get a name or location from the caller. They were able to use tracking systems to trace the phone call and sheriff’s deputies were notified of the address, according to a news release.
Indiana State Police Investigate Death of Starke County Jail Inmate
Around 3 a.m. on Saturday, February 2nd, the Indiana State Police was called to Starke Hospital in Knox to conduct an investigation into the death of an inmate.
According to the initial investigation by ISP Detective Brian Kubiak, during processing into the Starke County Jail, 41-year-old Steven Richie, of North Judson, reportedly removed a clear plastic baggie from his pants pocket, containing an unknown white chalky substance, and allegedly put it into his mouth. Continue reading
Starke County Jail Inmates Making Christmas Wreaths for Senior Citizens, Veterans
Inmates at the Starke County Jail have been spreading some holiday cheer by making Christmas wreaths. Jail Warden Phil Cherry says the project was inspired by the jail’s popular garden program. “It was just kind of a natural extension from what we did all summer, and the guys thought it would be something admirable to give back to the community,” he explains. “It was mostly focused on senior citizens and veterans.”
RSVP Necessary for Next Drug and Tobacco Free Starke County Meeting
The next Drug and Tobacco Free Starke County meeting will be held on Wednesday, November 15 at 9:30 a.m. at the Starke County Jail.
Sheriff Bill Dulin graciously offered the alternate location to the organization. Chairperson Judy Jelinek said that following the meeting, the Sheriff will treat everyone in attendance to a free lunch. He advised everyone to bring along a guest to get informed, check out the jail facility and share a meal with the local authority figure and other community members. Continue reading
Starke County Inmates Graduate from Nurturing Fathers Program
Fourteen students in the Nurturing Fathers program formally graduated yesterday. They attended the program while incarcerated in the Starke County Jail.
The program was facilitated by Jerome Kelly of Family Focus, Inc. out of Valparaiso who said that he gives the attendees the understanding of how to change behavior.
Starke County Sheriff’s Office Receives Award from Porter-Starke Services
Porter-Starke Services, the local not-for-profit community mental health center, has a mission to enhance the quality of life in our community through prevention, treatment, education and research. The organization presents the Service to Community Mental Health Award to individuals in the area who are contributing to that mission.
The Starke County Sheriff’s Office recently won the award for their work with inmates. Sheriff Bill Dulin described receiving the recognition as a huge testament to the hard work the jail and Starke County Staff does on a daily basis that sometimes goes unnoticed. Continue reading
Inmate Health Care Costs Create Challenges for Starke County Sheriff’s Department
Health care for jail inmates has led to some budgetary concerns for the Starke County Sheriff’s Department. Sheriff Bill Dulin told the county commissioners last week that what inmates pay for medical services isn’t covering the cost of providing them. Continue reading
Starke County Sheriff’s Office Prescription Drug Take-Back Initiative
The Starke County Sheriff’s Office will be working with community members to combat prescription drug abuse with their Prescription Drug Take-Back event today from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Prescription pills that sit in your medicine cabinet or around your home can be susceptible to theft, misuse and abuse. To prevent these types of crimes, the Sheriff’s Office is asking individuals to bring in potentially dangerous, expired, unused or unwanted prescription drugs. Continue reading
Two Arrested on Methamphetamine Charges
Two Knox residents were arrested on drug charges after a month-long investigation conducted by investigators from the Starke County Sheriff’s Office.
Police say they found 31-year-old Matthew Bradley hiding in a residence in the 3,000 S. block of 100 W. in North Judson on Tuesday, Aug 15. Bradley was detained along with 25-year-old Haley Marshall after methamphetamine-related items were found inside the room where Bradley was found, according to the report.
Trial Set for Augusta Hadden
The woman who is connected to the murder of a Knox man in March is headed to trial on Oct. 11.
Augusta Hadden, 39, is charged with assisting a criminal. Court documents indicate she disposed of a cell phone out of a truck driven by Edward Blackburn after he allegedly shot and killed Cord Colgrove in North Judson on March 3rd. She remains in custody, but she is currently being held in the Pulaski County Jail.
