Two arrested in separate Marshall County battery calls over the weekend

Two men were taken into custody over the weekend following separate incidents involving an invasion of privacy and a domestic battery.

A 27-year-old man was arrested Saturday evening after being caught trespassing on a property where a protection order had previously been issued against him.

According to a news release from Deputy Wozniak of the Marshall County Sheriff's Department, officers received a call at approximately 7:09 p.m. on Saturday, May 2nd, reporting a subject trespassing in the 14,000 block of Union Road. The caller, who is related to the subject, reported that the individual — identified as Westin A. Bush-Berdine — had been captured on a Ring doorbell camera on the property, despite having been previously trespassed and a protection order being in place.

Upon arrival, Deputy Wozniak and Culver Police Officer Zerbee located Bush-Berdine inside a pole-style building on the property. He was taken into custody without incident and transported to the Marshall County Jail, where he was booked on a Level 6 felony charge of invasion of privacy. He is currently being held on a $1,500 cash bond.

A 39-year-old North Liberty man was arrested Sunday afternoon after allegedly battering a woman in LaPaz and fleeing the scene before officers arrived.

According to a news release from Deputy Rans of the Marshall County Sheriff's Department, a woman contacted Marshall County 911 at approximately 1:22 p.m. on Sunday, May 3rd, to report a battery that had occurred on Troyer Street in LaPaz. The caller advised that the suspect, identified as Samuel Menefee, had fled the area northbound on Michigan Road following the incident.

St. Joseph County authorities were notified and requested to assist in locating the suspect. Investigators found evidence of a battery at the scene. Menefee was subsequently located in St. Joseph County, taken into custody, and transported back to the Marshall County Jail.

He was booked on a Level 6 felony charge of domestic battery causing moderate bodily injury and is being held on a $1,500 cash bond. LaPaz EMS also responded to the scene.

The Marshall County Sheriff's Department was assisted by the Culver Police Department in the first incident, and by the St. Joseph County Sheriff's Department and LaPaz EMS in the second.

Readers are reminded that charging information supported by an affidavit of probable cause is merely an allegation that a crime has been committed and that there is only probable cause to believe a crime has been committed. They are presumed innocent throughout the proceedings and are entitled to be represented by counsel and entitled to a trial by jury at which the State is obligated to provide proof beyond a reasonable doubt before a judgment of guilt may be made.