December 19, 2024, Press Release from the Van Wert County Sheriff's Office: The information provided allows for a timely snapshot of events in our community. The crimes reported here are preliminary investigations, taken in the field by deputies, and may or may not be assigned to a Detective for further investigation. The information provided may be found after further investigation to be incorrect or false. Certain details of these incidents have been removed due to potential follow-up investigation into the incident and/or for privacy rights.
Thursday December 19, 2024
0612 hrs. – Deputies responded to a residence on Elm Sugar Road in Tully Township to check an open line 911 call.
0717 hrs. – Dispatched Convoy EMS to a residence on Mentzer Drive in the Village of Convoy for a subject who was dehydrated.
1039 hrs. – Deputies responded to a location on Lincoln Highway in Ridge Township for a stray dog.
1307 hrs. – Deputies responded to a residence on Rumble Road in Hoaglin Township on a complaint of subjects shooting without regard to safety.
1322 hrs. – Deputies responded to a residence on Fox Road in Pleasant Township to assist the Van Wert Police. A report for the breaking and entering to an outbuilding was also taken. K9 Ellie was deployed to assist in the apprehension of the suspects. One subject received bite marks during the incidents. Both suspects, Jesse James Stemen, 35 and Alicia Nicole Funkhouser, 36, both of Willshire were taken into custody. Stemen was also served a warrant issued by Van Wert County Common Pleas Court for Probation Violation. Both subjects are being held at the Van Wert County Correctional Facility.
1523 hrs. – Deputies assisted Van Wert Municipal Court Authorities with the apprehension of a subject who fled the Court after being informed for a warrant for his arrest. Kyle W. Caldwell age 45 of Liberty Township was located and arrested in the Van Wert County Court House, where he had fled to the Adult Parole Office. Caldwell had warrants for failure to appear in three cases. He is being held at the Van Wert County Correctional Facility.
1611 hrs. – Deputies along with Convoy Fire and EMS responded to a report of a motor vehicle crash on Lincoln Highway in Pleasant Township. Unit One a 2019 Ford Fiesta driven by Kimberly Middleton was Westbound on Lincoln Highway. Unit Two, a 2017 Chey Camero driven by Bertrand Walls, was northbound on Liberty Union. Unit Two did not clear the westbound Lane and did not come to a complete stop and entered the intersection where it was struck by Unit One. Both subjects were checked, but not transported by EMS.
1657 hrs. – Deputies along with Middle Point Fire to an area of U.S. Route 30 in Ridge Township near Gilliland Road for a report of a ditch fire.
1757 hrs. – Deputies responded to a residence on Lare Road in Tully Township to contact a resident for the Van Wert City Police.
1844 hrs. – Deputies along with Van Wert Fire and EMS responded to a report of a motor vehicle crash at Lincoln Highway and U.S. Route 224 in Pleasant Township. Unit One, a 2013 Chevy Malibu driven by Aryanna Gutierrez was westbound on Lincoln Highway and stopped at a stop sign. Unit Two, a 2017 Kia Sportage driven by Sue Mohr, was headed westbound on the Lincoln Highway when Unit Two struck Unit One, which had already stopped. Both subjects were treated at the scene but were not transported.
1914 hrs. – Deputies responded to a residence on Pearson Road in Pleasant Township for a report of domestic violence.
2059 hrs. – Deputies responded to a report of a motor vehicle crash on State Route 697 in Washington Township. No other details are available.
