By Staff
ST. JOSEPH – Berrien County sheriff's detectives, assisted by Elkhart County sheriff's detectives and Cass County sheriff's detectives, executed search warrants in both Indiana and in Cass County.
According to Det. Lt. David Chandler of the Berrien County Sheriff's Office, execution of search warrants resulted from a week-long investigation into a larceny of a John Deere skid-steer from Great Lakes Green Power (Klug's John Deere) at 7878 M-140, Eau Claire on Dec. 27, 2008.
Early Friday morning, sheriff's detectives from Elkhart and Berrien executed the first search warrant at 58021 Morgan St., Elkhart County.
Seized from this residence was approximately $5,000 worth of stolen property from various Indiana locations, including flat-screen TVs, computers, a snow blower, air compressor and various types of power equipment, including a chain saw, several stolen Indiana registration plates and a small amount of illegal drugs.
From that point, Chandler reported Monday, Berrien County sheriff's detectives started interviewing several individuals at this location.
Information received pointed detectives to a Cass County residence.
A second search warrant was executed at 67440 Bulhand Road in Cass County's Calvin Township.
Items seized with the second search warrant, all stolen, included the 2008 John Deere Skid-Steer CT322 with attached snow blade reported stolen from Berrien County Dec. 27, 2008; two stolen Kubota's Zero Turns 2008 ZD 331 reported stolen from Goshen, Ind., city police two weeks ago and ZD 21F reported stolen two years ago to the St. Joseph County, Ind., Police Department.
Total value of the recovered property was placed at $60,000.
This investigation is continuing by both Cass County sheriff's detectives and Elkhart County sheriff's detectives, Goshen city police detectives and Berrien County sheriff's detectives.
Detectives involved include Det. John Perry of Elkhart County, Det. Kristen Daly of Cass County, Det. Sgt. Mike Danneffel and Det. Lt. Chandler of Berrien County.
Investigators will submit reports to prosecutor's offices in the various jurisdictions for warrants for two subjects, Chandler stated.