Two loose dogs near Ball State University on Friday proved the community's animal control woes are far from solved.

Police from Ball State University and the Delaware County sheriff's department responded to a report of two loose dogs in the area of Bethel and Tillotson avenues Friday morning.

"It appeared to be somebody dumped them," Ball State University Police officer Brad Clark said. "They were on our property and almost froze."

According to Clark, the university's police dispatcher contacted city animal control to request they come pick up the dogs and take them to the city's animal shelter.

"They just told us they don't work on Fridays and unless the dog is vicious, they can't come out," Clark said. "It's a little frustrating that we can't get hold of somebody."

According to Clark, the dogs appeared to be labs or retrievers and were not vicious. They were, however, nearly frozen to death.

The dogs and police caused a scene and prompted some passersby to stop and help. Some even brought dog food.

Clark convinced someone with a barn to take the dogs for the weekend until the animal shelter opened Monday.

Source: The Star Press

A Muncie woman was robbed at gunpoint Friday morning by two men who forced their way into her Dice Acres home.

Local authorities are still looking for two black males armed with handguns that committed the home invasion in the 2900 block of West Cypress Drive.Delaware County Sheriff George Sheridan Jr. and other deputies searched the area after the incident, but there were no immediate arrests.

The woman, in her mid-20s, was shaken up, but not hurt.

 Sheridan said the victim was asleep and the suspects threw a blanket over her head while they robbed her just before 7 a.m.

 Sheriff’s deputies spent the morning interviewing neighbors and searching for the suspects.

When he was arrested Nov. 9, Willard Monroe Jent Jr. told city police he intended to kill himself.

Early Saturday, in his cell at the Delaware County jail, Jent apparently made good on that threat.

Delaware County Coroner James Clevenger Jr. - whose office was notified of Jent's death shortly before 5 a.m. - said he believed the 49-year-old Muncie man had committed suicide.

Complete story at:  The Star Press

Sheriff Department said an OxyContin deal along Interstate 69 went south Tuesday night when four people, including a 67-year-old Farmland man, got caught buying and selling the powerful pain killer.

Delaware County sheriff's deputy Jeff Stanley received a tip that an OxyContin buy was going down at a convenience store at the interstate's interchange with Ind. 332.

County sheriff's deputies followed a suspect to the store Tuesday night and saw what appeared to be a drug buy.

Complete Story at: The Star Press

Law enforcement agencies in Muncie and Delaware County jailed 13 people Wednesday. For a searchable database of arrest records, visit www.thestarpress.com/arrests

Many of Indiana's best special weapons and tactics officers are in Muncie this week, competing and improving their skills.

For Patrick Etter, Indiana State Police senior trooper, the statewide SWAT competition is a chance to match up against the best emergency response and special weapons and tactics teams in the state, along with sharing time with good friends.

"It challenges you as a police officer to go beyond ordinary duty," said Etter, who serves with ISP's emergency response team.

The Delaware County sheriff's department is hosting the statewide SWAT competition this week at the local Fraternal Order of Police Lodge 87 along Butterfield Road. Sixteen teams from throughout the Hoosier state -- with a combined total of nearly 100 officers -- are competing in a number of events.

Sheriff George Sheridan Jr., who leads the county SWAT team, said officers compete in shooting and physical fitness events at the lodge's shooting range and obstacle course. Sheridan also presides over the state SWAT officers organization.

Most special weapons and tactics teams handle high-risk arrest and search warrants, hostage situations, heavily armed criminals and barricaded suspects. Muncie's SWAT team was called Monday when a Marion man barricaded himself in a garage after threatening a local family with a knife. Jeffrey Rittenhouse, 26, surrendered without incident.

"Every time we go out, we are in danger," said Cpl. Matt Jones of the Hammond Police Department's special weapons and tactics team.

Jones, a Ball State University graduate, said most of Hammond's SWAT calls were on narcotic cases and arrest warrants.

The competition, which continues through Friday, is open to the public and also has vendors selling law enforcement equipment and supplies.

Source:  The Star Press