Sheriff Notes April 11th, 2025

Notes from the desk of Sheriff Abbott:

• For the Month of March, Uniform Response made 471 traffic stops and handled 865 calls for service. In March, Dispatch took 8,467 calls, in which 2,911 of them came in on 911.
• Uniform Response and Our Dive Team assisted Lawrence PD on a Drowning in the Paw Paw River. Divers were able to locate the 48-year-old victim from Illinois. The victim tried to swim across the river which was very cold and flowing faster than normal due to the amount of rain we've received. The victim went under on the east side of the bridge and was located on the west side of the bridge.
• Uniform Response handled a Larceny from a Convenience Store in Porter Township. Deputies were able to obtain video of the two suspects and their vehicle. Both suspects were identified as was the vehicle involved. The individuals will now be held accountable for their actions.
• Uniform Response responded to a Domestic Assault in Keeler Township. While on scene investigating it, the male suspect became assaultive towards the Deputy. The suspect was arrested after a struggle and lodged for the incident.
• Detectives from the CID Unit from Our Office followed up in Benton Harbor about a Residence having Stolen Property from a Break-in in Bangor Township. Detectives were able to get consent to search the property and residence and located a full pickup truck load of recovered stolen property. A supplemental report will be done and charges sought for their involvement.
• Deputies while checking Marketplace Facebook found an Irrigation Pump (Rare one) in which they felt may have been one that was stolen in Van Buren in the Fall from Decatur Township. Detectives followed up on it in Allegan County, and indeed it was the stolen one. The pump was confiscated, and charges were submitted on the suspect that sold it to the subject trying to sell it unaware it was stolen.
• On March 30^th, the evening of the big storm, between the hours of 4pm-midnight, Dispatchers took 435 phone calls. Breaking it down further, 215 of them were on 911. There were 163 calls for service, 60 for the Fire Departments, 67 for Law Enforcement, 19 for Medical, and 19 misc.
• Dispatcher Chad Kirby received a Life Saving Award for his part in walking a Family through CPR on a 911 call. The call was for a 1-year-old not breathing. The child did survive the incident, and Chad played a big role in that.