Benton Township Police Department

Benton Township Police Department The Benton Township Police Department is a 24/7/365 operational department. We currently serve 36 square miles inside of Berrien County.

Within our area, we have the county's largest business hub, miles of freeway, and a shoreline along Lake Michigan. THIS PAGE IS NOT MONITORED ON A 24 HOUR BASIS. IF YOU HAVE AN EMERGENCY PLEASE CALL 9-1-1. Post Comment Removal Policy
The Benton Township Police Department’s page was created by the department to facilitate the exchange of information with the public at large. To promote suc

h exchange, the department encourages and welcomes postings and comments from the general public about issues related to law enforcement in Benton Township. With that said, however, the police department reserves the right to regulate the content of, and where necessary delete completely, any objectionable entry that appears on its fan page. The Benton Township Police Department is responsible for monitoring all postings to its page and at its sole discretion, to protect other fan page visitors from inappropriate or otherwise harmful information and links. To that end, the Benton Township Police Department will remove as soon as feasible any posting that involves:
-Advertisements of any kind
-Profane language or content
-Content that promotes, fosters, or perpetuates discrimination on the basis of race, creed, color, age, religion, gender, marital status, status with regard to public assistance, national origin, physical or mental disability, or sexual orientation.
-Explicit or implied sexual content
-Conduct implying, promoting, or encouraging illegal activity
-Information that might compromise the safety or security of the public
-Any other posting that, by its nature or content, might harm public welfare
-Comments/posts that are repetitive
-Comments that do not pertain to the original post

Our office is currently closed to the public due to the COVID-19 pandemic. If you need fingerprints done for a Benton Township case, please come to the station with your ID, mask, and whatever court paperwork you may have for that case. For FOIA Requests, please contact our FOIA coordinator, Olivia Davis. TX: 269-926-8221
Fax: 269-926-9533
Email: [email protected]

If you have an anonymous tip or information that would assist in an investigation, please contact the BTPD Detective Bureau at 269-925-1135 or Crime Stoppers at 574-288-STOP

08/21/2026

NOTICE!!
We have an update as to accessing the park this Saturday for our 4th annual auto show. MDOT has agreed to temporarily open the new roundabout for easier access to the park/car show. The roundabout can be reached via Empire Avenue, either east or west bound. M 139 north to Benton Harbor will remain closed. Please see the attached map.

08/05/2026

🛑🛑There’s a post going around on social media alleging that ICE is in Benton Harbor and was chasing someone down Union Ave. This allegation is false. ICE is not conducting any operations in our area and the incident portrayed was in regards to a separate investigation. If there are ever any questions about ICE being in the area, please don’t hesitate to ask. It’s better to know than assume!🛑🛑

07/30/2026

‼️Press Release‼️

On July 28th, 2026, just before 11 pm, officers were dispatched to 105 S. Fair for a report of shots being fired.
Upon arrival, officers found evidence of shots being fired, but were happy to find that no one had been hit by the gun fire.
Thanks to video surveillance in numerous different spots, detectives were able to track the suspect to a nearby apartment.
On July 29th, 2026, around noon, the suspect was taken into custody on numerous firearm charges. His name is being withheld pending arraignment. He is currently lodged at the Berrien County Jail.

The Benton Township Police Department was assisted by the Michigan State Police.

07/21/2026

Date of Release: July 21st, 2026
Date of Incident: February 4th, 2024
Location: 954 E. Empire

Victim: Jerry Wagner, 80, St. Joseph Township Resident

Call Type: Homicide Update

Suspect Information: Albert William Thomas, 75, Benton Harbor Resident

On July 20th, 2026, Albert William Thomas plead no contest to a charge of 2nd Degree Murder in regards to the death of Jerry Wagner. This is in reference to a homicide investigation from February 4th, 2024. Albert Thomas was identified as the suspect and apprehended shortly after the incident.
The Benton Township Police Department is thankful for the hard work and continued partnership with the Berrien County Prosecutor's Office, that was able to come up with this resolution. The Benton Township Police Department sends our continued condolences to Mr. Wagner’s family and friends.
Albert Thomas is set to be sentenced on August 31st, 2026 at 1:30 pm at the Berrien County Courthouse.

Respectfully,
D/Lt. Tyler Tiefenbach
Benton Township Police Department

07/17/2026

‼️3:30 all lanes are open

🚔🚔🚨🚨🚨I-94 is currently shut down in both directions. It’s shut down at the 33 mm westbound and 27 mm eastbound. Please fine an alternate route🚔🚔🚨🚨🚨 Benton Charter Township Fire Department Michigan State Police

‼️3:09 pm—EASTBOUND IS NOW OPEN…

07/09/2026

PRESS RELEASE
Date of Release: July 9th, 2026
Date of Incident: July 8th, 2026 at 4:16 pm
Location: 1400 Block of Mall Dr.
Victim: 73 year old Coloma Resident
Call Type: Fatal Motor Vehicle Crash

Assisting Agencies: Michigan State Police, Benton Charter Township Fire Department, Berrien County Sheriff's Office Accident Reconstruction Team, Medic 1 Ambulance, Berrien County 911 - Michigan

On July 8th, 2026, officers were dispatched to the area of 1400 Mall Drive, in Benton Township, for a report of a car vs. motorcycle crash. Upon arrival officers located a 73 year old male laying on the ground with significant head trauma. He was transported to Corewell Health, where he was pronounced dead shortly after arriving.
The driver of the other vehicle was not injured and is cooperating with the investigation.
Preliminary investigation shows that the motorcyclist was traveling westbound when the second vehicle pulled into its path. The exact cause of the crash remains under investigation; however drugs and alcohol do NOT appear to be a factor.

Anyone with any information is encouraged to contact the Benton Township Police Department at
269-925-8221 or via their page.

The names of the individuals involved will not be released at this time.

D/Lt. Tyler Tiefenbach
Benton Township Police Department

07/08/2026

🚨🚔🚨

Mall Dr., in front of Walmart and Lowe’s, is currently closed to traffic, due to a serious injury accident. Please avoid the area and find an alternate route.

Update:
The road is now open. A more detailed press release will be given in the morning.

06/22/2026

🚔🚨🚨Update to the shooting from
Friday, June 19th ⬇️

06/20/2026

***UPDATE***
On June 21, 2026, officers with the Benton Township Police Department arrested the suspect in this matter. The suspect is a 50 year old female resident of Benton Township. Her identification is being withheld pending arraignment, in which she faces numerous charges.

D/Lt. Tyler Tiefenbach

*****************************************************
**Original Post**

Just before 11:00 pm last night, June 19th, 2026, officers were dispatched to 105 S. Fair for a report of a shooting victim.
Upon arrival, officers located a 49 year old male suffering from a gun shot wound to the neck. The male was treated on scene and was transported to Corewell Health for continued care. He expected to make a full recovery.
Investigators are still working on locating the suspect. The incident occurred in the 900 block of Highland, not at 105 S. Fair.
Benton Township Police Department believes this an isolated incident and not related to any earlier incidents.
Any one with any information is encouraged to call the Benton Township Police Department at 269-926-8221 or via Facebook messenger.

—D/Lt. Tyler Tiefenbach

05/01/2026

**CASE UPDATE**

Last week, the Benton Township Police Department requested assistance in an investigation in which a female had suffered a gun shot wound and was seriously injured.
The victim in the case has made great improvements and has been released from the hospital.
On Tuesday, April 28th, 2026, Craig Shivers, 60, of Benton Harbor, was arrested for the incident. On Friday, May 1st, 2026, Mr. Shivers was arraigned on a count of Assault with Intent to Murder, and numerous other firearm charges.
The investigation is ongoing and any information is helpful. BTPD is thankful for individuals who have come forward with information up to this point.
While Mr. Shivers has been charged, it’s important to remember that he remains innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

-D/Lt. Tyler Tiefenbach

Address

1725 Territorial Road
Benton Harbor, MI
49022

Telephone

+12699250616

Website

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