Police & Fire: Springfield fire; stolen wheels

HOUSE FIRE: Fire destroyed a mobile home Wednesday at the Avenue A Mobile Home Park at 1267 Avenue A, Lot 162 in Springfield. Fire Chief Scott Cipsic said firefighters were called about 7:50 p.m. after a report of an explosion and fire which destroyed the mobile home. A pet cat and snake died in the fire but the owner and his girlfriend were not hurt. The man was arrested on unrelated charges. The cause of the fire is under investigation and Springfield firefighters are being assisted by the Michigan State Police Fire Marshal. Firefighters from the Veterans Affairs and the Bedford Township fire departments assisted at the scene. One Springfield firefighter suffered a minor hand injury.

TROOPER CRASH: A Michigan State Police patrol car was struck by another vehicle in the highway construction zone on I-94 in Emmett Township about 11 p.m. Wednesday. Troopers said the patrol car was parked in the westbound lane with emergency lights activated as part of a program to get motorists to slow and be cautious as they entered the construction area. A 76-year-old Winstonville, Mississippi man, Jessie Williams, failed to merge with traffic at the beginning of the construction zone. He then hit a construction barrel, went into the construction zone and hit the patrol car. Neither the trooper nor Williams were hurt and damage was minor. Williams was ticked.

ROBBERY: Two men, ages 23 and 20, were arrested on charges of strong armed robbery after a 17-year-old man told Battle Creek police he was robbed at 7:39 p.m. Wednesday while walking near Nelson Street and Post Avenue. He told officers two men approached and began talking and then asked if he could change a $50. He told them he only had larger bills and then one of them grabbed his wallet and took 4 $100 bills from his wallet and then one of them showed a black item in his waistband before they left, although the victim didn't know if it was a gun or cell phone. The men were located by police and identified by the victim.

WHEELS & TIRES STOLEN: Wheels and tires from several cars were stolen at Henkel Chrysler Jeep Dodge at 1275 W. Dickman Road in Springfield. The larceny was discovered Sunday morning and occurred between 3:30 a.m. and 5 a.m., according to the Calhoun County Sheriff Department. The wheels were taken from Dodge Chargers and Dodge Challengers. The stolen wheels were valued at $55,000 and damage to the vehicles was estimated at $15,000.

ASSAULTS: Battle Creek police have reported the following cases:

• A 37-year-old woman was arrested for simple assault after Battle Creek police said she pushed a pregnant woman during an argument. Police were called at 7:16 p.m. Tuesday by the woman who said she had been assaulted by two young boys. The woman was found not far from the scene of the alleged assault on East Kingman Avenue but said she didn't want to get the boys in trouble because they were just being naughty. However, police later learned that the woman, who was intoxicated, had been asking children for change and became belligerent and threw a basketball at a house and knocked over a barbeque grill. She then pushed the 25-year-old pregnant woman.

• Charges are being sought for a boy, 14, after police said several young people were fighting in the 200 block of Taft Court at 7:30 p.m. Tuesday and a boy, 12, was assaulted.

• A warrant is being sought for a woman, 34, after an acquaintance, 35, said she was assaulted during an argument over shoes in the first block of North Division Street at 7:24 p.m. Tuesday.

• A warrant for domestic assault is being sought for a man, 33, after his girlfriend, 41, said she was assaulted in the first block of Pico Place, reported at 1:54 a.m. Tuesday.

Call Silent Observer at 269-964-3888 or text CRIMES (274637) SOTIP or see www.crimereports.com with information about crimes.