From the Desk of Sheriff Abbott – 11/ 26/2025
- Our Animal Control Shelter will be partnering with the Bissel Pet Foundation to help bring Hope to the Shelter during the Holiday Season. Empty the Shelters in December will help our county find forever homes for these animals. The event is going to be from December 1-15 at our Hartford shelter location. Citizens will be able to adopt a dog for $40 for a dog 6 months or older.
- Uniform Response responded to a Larceny in Progress in Hartford Township. The owner of the building saw 2 individuals on his property in his surveillance cameras taking items. The victim was able to give a description of the truck to dispatch. A Deputy in the area located the truck and made a traffic stop on it. The 2 individuals from Berrien County admitted to taking the items. Deputies found more items in question, and they admitted to stealing those from a nearby construction site. They were both lodged and are facing charges for the crimes.
- Letters were sent out Representing Our Office to numerous businesses and individuals in the county in reference to our Safety Pup Program. This donation goes towards our office getting materials to help us educate kids in our community on safety issues, dangerous people, dangers of violence, gun safety, as well as other issues. With the partnership we get over 7,000 pieces of educationally sound child safety materials to get to our youth. The money/checks are made out to Child Safety of America Inc. and sent to our office. If you have received one of these letters on our letter head, it is not a scam. Thank you in advance to all of those that donate to this every year, in the past, or plan to.
- Uniform Response responded to People Cutting a Walnut Tree Down at a Public Access in Columbia Township. Deputies located the suspects and arrested one of them on an outstanding bench warrant. Charges will be sought once Deputies hear back from the DNR confirming they want prosecution.
- Uniform Response handled a Domestic Violence call in Pine Grove Township. After investigating the incident, the father was lodged for physically assaulting his daughters.
- Our Computer Forensic Detective is handling a case in which the Victims Facebook Account was Hacked. The suspect took over control of it and started posting fictitious items for sale. The case remains open and is currently being investigated.
- Deputies Trespassed an Individual from a Residence in Bloomingdale Township as she is not welcome to ever come back to the residence in the future.
- On Behalf of the Van Buren County Sheriff’s Office, we hope everyone has a Safe and Happy Thanksgiving Holiday. I would also like to thank the community for their continued support of our office.
