December 10, 2013
12/11/13 On Monday, December 9th at 4:30 in the morning Marshall County Sheriff’s Deputy Nicholas Laffoon located a vehicle in the parking lot of the LaPaz McDonalds that had possibly been involved in thefts in the Culver area earlier in the year. The vehicle was also suspected to have been involved in some theft incidents in Culver on Sunday, December 8th in the late evening hours. During Sunday incident an officer with the Culver Police Department had to chase the suspect who fled the area on foot. Unable to locate the suspect, it was determined that the suspect had fled the area in a vehicle matching the description of the vehicle located by Officer Laffoon.
While checking the vehicle a male subject was found to be sleeping in the vehicle. Deputy Laffoon approached the vehicle and also saw a rifle and several items of evidence he believed to have been part of the Culver thefts in the vehicle. After Deputy Laffoon identified the sleeping male as 43 year old Russell A. Prosser of South Bend as the occupant of the vehicle, and having knowledge of his lengthy criminal history, knowing he had several serious felony convictions which prohibited him from possessing a firearm Laffoon called for back-up. Deputy Ryan Hollopeter arrived at the scene and more evidence was obtained linking Mr. Prosser’s alleged involvement to the incidents in Culver the previous night.
Mr. Prosser was taken into custody without incident and transported to the Marshall County Jail where he was booked in for unlawful possession of a firearm by a seriously violent felon as a class B felony. Prosser was held on no bond.
The vehicle involved was transported and secured at the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department while a search warrant was obtained. Executing the search warrant, several items that had apparently been stolen the previous night in Culver were located in the vehicle.
Marshall County Police were assisted by the Culver Police Department during this investigation. This incident is still under investigation by both the Marshall County Sheriff’s Department and the Culver Police Department and formal charges are pending through the Marshall County Prosecutor’s Office.
Readers are reminded that charging information supported by an affidavit of probable cause is a mere 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 are entitled to a trial by jury at which the State is obligated to provide proof beyond a reasonable doubt before judgment of guilt may be made.