St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Office

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St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Office

The St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Office is dedicated to serving and protecting the citizens of our community with professionalism, integrity, and respect.

Through proactive policing, community partnerships, and a commitment to justice, we strive to ensure

08/31/2026

Please join me in welcoming two of the newest members of the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Office, Deputy Max C**n and Deputy Matt Carson.

Deputy C**n joins our Law Enforcement Services Division and will be serving our community on road patrol throughout St. Joseph County. Deputy Carson joins our Corrections Division and will be serving in our jail.

While their responsibilities are different, both positions are an important part of our mission. Whether patrolling our communities or working inside our correctional facility, our expectations remain the same, work hard, treat people with respect, support your fellow deputies, be accountable, and never forget that we are here to SERVE.

I am proud to welcome Max and Matt to our team and excited about what each of them brings to our office. They are joining a great group of men and women who care about this county and take pride in serving it.

Congratulations, Deputy C**n and Deputy Carson. I look forward to watching both of you grow in your careers and represent the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Office and our community well.

-Sheriff Spence

08/22/2026

Our hearts are with the Cass County Sheriff’s Office following the loss of Detective Joseph Sheteron.

Detective Sheteron was known by many in our area, including members of our Sheriff’s Office. His loss is felt throughout our law enforcement family.

We stand beside Sheriff Roach, the Cass County Sheriff’s Office, and all who knew and worked with Detective Sheteron. Please keep his family, friends, and fellow officers in your thoughts and prayers during this difficult time.

Our Cass County family is not alone.

08/17/2026

🚍 August is Back to School Month! 📚✏️

As students across St. Joseph County prepare to head back to the classroom, the St. Joseph County Sheriff's Office reminds everyone to help make this school year a safe one by staying alert around school buses and in school zones.

Every child deserves to get to and from school safely. When you see a school bus:

🟡 Yellow flashing lights mean the bus is preparing to stop—slow down and be ready to stop.
🔴 Red flashing lights and the extended stop arm mean you must stop at least 20 feet away from the bus in both directions, unless you're traveling on the opposite side of a divided highway.

In Michigan during 2024, there were 54 crashes at school bus stops while bus lights and stop arms were activated, resulting in 26 injuries and one tragic fatality. These crashes are preventable.

As you travel throughout the county this school year:

🚸 Slow down in school zones and residential neighborhoods.
👀 Watch carefully for children crossing streets, riding bicycles, and walking between parked vehicles.
🛑 Stay alert for crossing guards and school safety patrols.

Remember, passing a stopped school bus is not only dangerous—it can result in a civil fine of up to $500, with significantly more severe penalties if someone is injured or killed.

Let's all do our part to keep our students, school staff, and bus drivers safe this school year.

08/12/2026

Yesterday, we continued our wellness training for our deputies and staff.

Our people deal with difficult situations every day. This training gives them practical tools to manage stress, look out for one another, and know when to ask for help. Taking care of those who serve helps them better serve the citizens of St. Joseph County.

The training was led by Lauren Frank, Pivotal’s Police Social Worker assigned to the St. Joseph County Sheriff’s Office. She supports our deputies and staff while also helping meet the mental health and substance-use needs of people in the jail.

This partnership is supported by a $125,000 Edward Byrne Memorial Justice Assistance Grant. The grant helps fund the police social worker position, substance-use counseling, medication-assisted treatment, release planning, and diversion services.

This training is a starting point. We plan to build on it and continue finding practical ways to support the people who serve our community.

Thank you to Pivotal Director Cameron Bullock, Lauren, and the entire Pivotal team for being great partners to our Sheriff’s Office and St. Joseph County.

08/03/2026

Over the past week, several people have asked me why I was walking behind our Mounted Division with a wheelbarrow during the Burr Oak Heritage Days Parade.

The answer is pretty simple.

Our Mounted/ATV Division volunteers their time to serve our community. They spend evenings, weekends, and countless hours training, caring for their horses, maintaining equipment, and representing the Sheriff’s Office at community events.

The least I could do was help with one of the less glamorous jobs.

To me, being Sheriff doesn’t mean I’m above any task. In fact, it means the opposite. If I expect others to serve this community, I should be willing to serve alongside them. No rank or title makes anyone too important to do the work that needs to be done.

That same appreciation extends to all of our volunteer divisions.

Our Reserve Deputies, Marine Patrol, Dive Rescue Team, Drone Team, Mounted/ATV Division, Chaplains, Victim Services volunteers, and everyone else who gives their time make this Sheriff’s Office better. They volunteer because they believe in serving others, and our community benefits because of it.

I also want to challenge my fellow sheriffs.

If you have volunteer divisions or specialty teams, spend a day serving alongside them. Carry the equipment. Help set up. Stay to clean up. Walk the parade route. Do whatever job needs to be done.

Leadership isn’t about asking others to do the work. It’s about being willing to do it yourself.

To every volunteer who serves alongside us, thank you. You have my respect, and I am proud to serve with you.

-Sheriff Spence

07/31/2026

🚨 Scam Alert 🚨

The St. Joseph County Sheriff's Office is warning residents about an increase in phone scams involving callers pretending to be law enforcement, the courts, or correctional facilities.

One of the biggest red flags is when a caller tells you to pay using Bitcoin or other cryptocurrency. Criminals favor these payment methods because they are difficult to trace and nearly impossible to recover once the money is sent.

If someone claiming to be from the Sheriff's Office, the courts, or a jail pressures you to make an immediate payment, stop and verify the information before taking any action. Legitimate agencies will not pressure you into sending money through Bitcoin, gift cards, or other non-traditional payment methods.

Please take a few minutes to talk with your parents, grandparents, neighbors, and friends. These scams often target older adults, and one conversation could prevent someone from becoming a victim.

Please help us spread the word by sharing this post. Together, we can make it harder for scammers to succeed.

07/28/2026

We are proud to announce the promotion of Deputy Zachary Radtke to Sergeant in our Law Enforcement Services Division, effective today.

Sgt. Radtke has earned the respect of those he works with through his work ethic, dependability, and commitment to serving the people of St. Joseph County. As one of our Field Training Officers, he has played an important role in training and mentoring new deputies while setting a strong example of professionalism and service. That experience has helped prepare him for this supervisory position.

I am confident Sgt. Radtke will continue to lead by example, support the deputies he serves with, and help strengthen our Sheriff's Office.

Please join me in congratulating Sgt. Radtke on this well-deserved promotion and wishing him continued success in his new role.

Thank you to all of our employees for your hard work, dedication, and commitment to the citizens of St. Joseph County.

-Sheriff Spence

07/22/2026

The St. Joseph County Sheriff's Office is proud to welcome three new members to our team.

Please join me in welcoming Corrections Deputy Jaden Zambrano, Corrections Deputy Justin Gamez, and Mounted/ATV Division Deputy Chad Bojanich.

Justin and Jaden have joined our Corrections Division, and Chad has joined our Mounted/ATV Division.

Jaden is a graduate of the St. Joseph County Career and Technical Education Program, which continues to prepare young people for careers in public safety. We are proud to see another graduate choose to serve here at the Sheriff's Office.

Each of these deputies has earned this opportunity, and we look forward to watching them grow in their careers as they serve the people of St. Joseph County.

Please help us welcome Justin, Jaden, and Chad to the Sheriff's Office. We wish them all the best.

07/18/2026

MEDIA RELEASE

NUMBER: MR 26-28
DATE: July 13, 2026
SUBJECT: Standoff

CENTREVILLE, MI – On Monday, July 13, 2026, at approximately 3:43 pm, St. Joseph County Sheriff’s personnel encountered Isaiah Christopher Merkle, a 44 year old male from Centreville, in the secured area of the Sheriff's Office where patrol vehicles and the jail intake entrance are located. Merkle had driven onto the sidewalk next to the Sheriff's Office building and stopped with the front of his vehicle facing building.

When confronted, Merkle fled the property, nearly causing a traffic crash.

Deputies located Merkle and his vehicle near the west village limits of Centreville, where a standoff ensued and the St. Joe Valley
Special Response team was activated. During the incident, Merkle called 911 and stated he had a handgun and a shotgun. Traffic in
the area was stopped while deputies negotiated with him.

After several minutes of negotiations, deputies took Merkle into custody. Merkle actively resisted arrest, and deputies deployed a Taser before taking him into custody.

During the investigation, Merkle later stated that he was going to drive his vehicle through the Sheriff's Office building. Merkle was lodged at the St. Joseph County Jail and charged with Operating While Intoxicated 3rd offense and 4 counts of Resisting and Obstructing a Police Officer. Bond was set at $50,000.

Sheriff Chad Spence said, "This was a dangerous incident, and I'm proud of the teamwork shown by our deputies and all the agencies involved in bringing it to an end. It also serves as a reminder that our deputies and employees face risks even while reporting to work or leaving at the end of their shift. Providing them with a safe and secure workplace remains one of my highest priorities."

The St. Joseph County Sheriff's Office thanks the public for their patience during the temporary road closure.

The Sheriff’s Office was assisted by the Centreville-Constantine Police Department, Three Rivers Police Department, Michigan State
Police, Centreville Fire Department, Three Rivers Ambulance, St. Joseph County Central Dispatch and the St. Joseph Valley Special
Response Team.

Authorized by: Sheriff Chad L. Spence

07/13/2026

First St. Joseph County Amish Safety Day

What an incredible day!

On Saturday, July 11, we had the honor of joining the Amish community for the first St. Joseph County Amish Safety Day. It was a day centered on one simple goal, helping keep families safe.

The turnout was outstanding. We had 188 people sign in, and we believe well over 200 attended throughout the day. More important than the numbers were the conversations. Everywhere you looked, people were asking questions, sharing ideas, and learning from one another.

One of the things I enjoyed most was seeing several generations of families together. Parents and grandparents were teaching and encouraging their children while learning about roadway safety. As Sheriff, there is no greater reward than working alongside families to help keep them safe and help ensure they return home to one another each day.

I want to personally thank Jr. and the Amish Safety Committee for inviting us into your community and for the many hours you spent planning this event. Your hard work made today possible, and we truly appreciate your friendship and partnership.

I also want to thank everyone who helped make Saturday a success, including the Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency, Michigan State Police, Centreville Fire Department, Colon Fire & Rescue, Burr Oak Fire Department, Bronson Fire Department, Fabius Park Fire Department, St Joseph County Central Dispatch, LifeCare Ambulance, MedFlight, the St. Joseph County Road Commission, Centreville, MI.

A special thank you to AJ DeMond from the Branch-Hillsdale-St. Joseph Community Health Agency for stepping in to lead this project when it was needed. AJ did an outstanding job coordinating the event, bringing everyone together, and helping make the day a tremendous success.

Shout out to Deputy Jeff Bingaman, who spent the day visiting with families, answering questions, and showing children and adults the equipment we use every day. Jeff did an outstanding job representing our Sheriff's Office and connecting with the community.

At the St. Joseph County Sheriff's Office, we believe our first job is to serve the people. Days like today remind us that some of the best work we do is by building relationships and working together before an emergency ever happens.

Thank you to everyone who attended and helped make this first event such a success. We are already looking forward to doing it again next year.

-Sheriff Spence

Address

650 E. Main Street
Centreville, MI
49032

Telephone

+12694679045

Website

https://www.stjosephcountymi.gov/government/courts-law-enforcement/sheriff-s-department, https://www.stjosephcountymi.go

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