Full Notification

Sheriff Richard J. Behnke reports that deputies of the Cass County Sheriff’s Office assisted members of the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Office (IN), Berrien County Sheriff's Office and the Mishawaka Police Department in the pursuit of a stolen police car on 12-1-23 at 2:30p. The investigation showed that a male suspect had stolen a Mishawaka patrol car and fled into Michigan. The stolen police car was involved in a traffic crash near the intersection of M-60 Hwy and Yankee St. in Cass County’s Howard Township. The other vehicle was driven by Catherine Townsend of Vicksburg, MI. The suspect was taken into custody. His name is being withheld pending arraignment in the Cass County Courts. The suspect was transported to Corewell Lakeland Niles Hospital via SMACS ambulance. Ms. Townsend was not injured in the crash. Alcohol is believed to be a factor in the incident. The incident remains under investigation.