Fire and Police Reports

By Annette Christie

Stolen Property recovered in Watervliet Township 

  The Covert Township Police Department with assistance from the Michigan State Police SWAT and the Berrien County Sheriff’s Department executed a search warrant for stolen property at a residence on N. Watervliet Rd., in Watervliet Township.    The Covert Township Police Department has been investigating a series of breaking and entering in Covert Township for the last month.  Investigators from the Covert Township Police Department developed leads on the whereabouts of the stolen property.  With the assistance of the MSP SWAT team and the Berrien County Sheriff’s Department, officers from all three agencies executed a search warrant.  Officers found stolen items from the breakings and enterings in Covert Township.  Approximately $5,000 worth of stolen property was recovered.   Investigators from Covert Township will be seeking charges for receiving and concealing stolen property. The suspect was taken in to custody on unrelated charges to the Covert Township investigation.  The suspect’s name has not been released pending arraignment.

Watervliet City Police asking for community help

  Watervliet City Police are investigating the burglary of a building and are asking for the public’s help.   Sometime between 8:00 p.m. on August 7, 2016 and 11:36 a.m. on August 8, 2016, an unknown person or persons broke into a shed on the west end of property located at 216 Park St.  Stolen from the building was one push type lawn mower, red and black in color and one wheel barrow with a black plastic tub and a plain wood frame.    The Watervliet City Police Department is requesting assistance from the public to identify possible suspects in this case.  Anyone with information is asked to contact the Watervliet Police Department or Michiana Area Crime Stoppers.

Crime of the Week

 The Crime of the Week comes from the files of the Michigan State Police.  On August 16, 2016 at approximately 5:07 a.m., the Michigan State Police responded to the Riverside Food Mart, located at 3468 Coloma Rd., in Hagar Township in reference to an armed robbery.  A white male wearing a gray Michigan State University hooded sweatshirt entered the business and presented a handgun.  The subject demanded money from the store clerk.  The unknown male suspect then fled on foot.    Crime Stoppers wants the person responsible for this armed robbery and will pay up to $1,000 for information leading to an arrest.  Crime Stoppers also pays cash rewards on other felony crimes and the capture of fugitives.    Michiana Crime Stoppers is a donor-funded program that serves 12 counties in Michiana.  They can be contacted about this or any felony crime or fugitive.  Tips can be submitted online at www.michianacrimestoppers.com or through a link on their Facebook page. Tipsters may also call 1-800-342-STOP.

Beshires trial set

  Brandon Beshires, 30, charged in the death of an 8-month old infant, has a trial day set for October 25.  Beshires was in court on Tuesday.  His attorney, Don Sappanos asked to waive the preliminary exam and move forward to trial.    Beshires is charged in the death of Carter Donovan.  The infant was left in the care of Beshires on February 19, 2016 while his mother went to a doctor appointment according to the police investigation.  The child died as a result of blunt trauma to the head, police say that he received when he was with Beshires.  He is charged with first degree murder and first degree child abuse.   The child’s mother, Autumn Atchley of Hartford, is charged with being an accessory after the fact in the death of her son.    Once Atchley realized there was a problem with Donovan, she took him to Lakeland Regional Health System.  He was pronounced dead at the hospital.  Her charges stem from what she told hospital staff and police officers. She is scheduled for trial in November.