Teens injured in Koontz Lake-area brawl

SBT24/7 News Report

Tools

By Tiffany Griffin

Story Created: Jul 22, 2008 at 7:23 AM EDT

Story Updated: Jul 22, 2008 at 7:37 AM EDT

Starke County authorities say two teens were treated at the hospital and released after they were beaten with baseball bats.

The teens were attacked by a large crowd in the Koontz Lake area overnight, county 911 dispatchers said.

They were taken to Starke Memorial Hospital for their injuries.

The Sheriff's Office did not release any further information and continued its investigation early Tuesday.

Tuesday, Jul 29 at 2:37 PM RJ wrote ...

Yes there are good teens in Koontz Lake but the bad always get the attention. Teens should not always have to be entertained. There are many people in Koontz Lake who need assistance. Teens should reach out. I saw another broken car window this morning? Where is our so-called sheriff.

Monday, Jul 28 at 1:43 PM One of many concerned Parents wrote ...

I live here in Koontz Lake for the last 19yrs, and yes My kids walk these roads,go 2 the park & beach. If the association is so concerned why not have activities for the teenagers here? Like teen dances,football,skateboarding,outdoor movies,ect.Give them something to do.And most of the parents are not druggies as "Sick & tired" wrote.Most of these teens r good kids around here. Its just ashame the bad ones ruin it for them all.

Thursday, Jul 24 at 5:47 PM Derrick wrote ...

Who'd have thought that the west side of South Bend wasn't actually at fault for this one! WEST SIDE IS DA BEST SIDE! Koontz Lake is full of wannabes aka wangstas. If you want the real come to da SB!

Thursday, Jul 24 at 10:12 AM RJ wrote ...

Does Starke County have a sheriff's department? Haven't heard about any report so there must not be a department.

Thursday, Jul 24 at 8:50 AM ms wrote ...

Could we please have an update as to what really took place?

Thursday, Jul 24 at 8:38 AM Anonymous wrote ...

If all the comments are wrong We would like to know the truth Actually we deserve to know the truth about What the hecks going on

Wednesday, Jul 23 at 10:47 PM Anonymous wrote ...

you guys dont even know everything. the police got it ALL wrong. and i hope the knox kids know the cops are going to be waitingat the church for it all to happen again!

Wednesday, Jul 23 at 10:35 PM anonymous wrote ...

The town meeting could be at the Koontz Lake Clubhouse and everyone could see the lovely bars on the windows now since the little thugs busted them out.

Wednesday, Jul 23 at 9:03 PM Brandon wrote ...

I think the Sheriff's Department did the best they could considering the time it took them to recive the call.

Wednesday, Jul 23 at 8:43 PM Anonymous wrote ...

Gues what started this whole Thing You'll never guess A GIRL big shocker there this little girl was giving her phone number out and some koontz lake wannabes got jealous word out is that It's going to happen tonight AGAIN where are the cops HMMMMM

Wednesday, Jul 23 at 8:41 PM Anonymous wrote ...

Steven you're a little punk and you need to stay in your own town Your not even from Koontz Lake go bother people in Walkerton Yeah I know who you are

Wednesday, Jul 23 at 6:25 PM Koontz Lake wrote ...

Town Wide meeting is exactly where we need to start I think the sherriff needs to be there shoot bring the whole department It's way past time for something to be done We are all sick of it

Wednesday, Jul 23 at 6:18 PM Mad K wrote ...

Law of the land around here. shoot em.

Wednesday, Jul 23 at 1:48 PM AE wrote ...

To Steve-0 Go and get a job, every story that is posted, you make stupid comments on, get a job and a real life .

Wednesday, Jul 23 at 12:30 PM RJ again wrote ...

How many hours has it been since the incident. Does anyone know exactly what happened? Suggest WSBT interview the sheriff?

Wednesday, Jul 23 at 12:26 PM RJ wrote ...

Good idea for a townwide meeting. Hopefully Kevin Kroft and commissioners will be able to attend.

Wednesday, Jul 23 at 11:22 AM To "God's Final Witness" wrote ...

I'm sorry, but I don't quite remember that prophecy declaring that the United States would collapse. Could you please provide the exact passage that states that a nation that would not be founded for centuries after Jeebus's death would fall? Stop reading so much into books people. We see what we want to see, therefore we can find anything to back up our claims if we generalize it enough. As far as this fight goes, I'm not surprised. Many youths wanna be thugs these days. They idolize gangstas..

Wednesday, Jul 23 at 11:17 AM Tired of it wrote ...

Hey Steve-o, Sounds like you could care less what happens here so shut up! I think it's time for a town-wide meeting. With the donations that I and others have made to the Koontz Lake Association, we should be able to use their facilities free of charge.

Wednesday, Jul 23 at 11:03 AM mrs. lovejoy wrote ...

what about the children???

Wednesday, Jul 23 at 10:06 AM NJ wrote ...

Gene & Kit Kat, No, they're not from the west side of South Bend! Looks like every neighborhood has a group of "uneducated thugs, low income animals from the zoo, stupid and ignorant" as "they" have been called in these comments. But Koontz Lake is suppose to be different...right? Yeah right, as you say "not in my neighborhood"! Welcome to the 'Hood - your very own Ghetto! So...where are you moving to now?

Wednesday, Jul 23 at 9:04 AM Kit Kat wrote ...

Are the teens from South Bend?

Wednesday, Jul 23 at 8:58 AM Anonymous wrote ...

Remember, books and movies like, "A Clockwork Orange" are written by silly liberal intellectual namby pambies.

Wednesday, Jul 23 at 8:55 AM koontz lake pm wrote ...

It starts with the Sheriff, What happened to all the promises during the election ??? I can see I backed the wrong horse. We got what we voted for........ Remember that next time I will

Wednesday, Jul 23 at 7:04 AM Koontz Lake 2 wrote ...

I also live in the Koontz Lake area. These thugs have vandalized the library and busted car windows. They also buy and sell drugs at the park, and I believe most of them have not completed school. The local church was broke into last year and the church van has had its tires sliced. The kids walk the streets at any given time. This is exactly why parents must be accountable for their child's actions. I haven't lived here long and never knew how bad it was until last year. It has to stop!

Wednesday, Jul 23 at 2:52 AM God's Final Witness wrote ...

The prophesied end-time reveals the demise of the United States and the begining of man's final war

Wednesday, Jul 23 at 2:36 AM Wayne wrote ...

Who said physical fighting never solves anything? Throughout history Americans have fought for freedom to rule ourselves, fair labor laws, and against slavery. History has proven physical fighting solves everything!

Tuesday, Jul 22 at 11:22 PM To kitty and anyone else in her shoes--- wrote ...

If you can identify a person or people who are deliberately doing something that is reducing your property value -sue them. It is frustrating, and time comsuming, but if you win, they pay legal costs too. I'm not a particularly litigeous person, but I have come to realize that the wallet is the only soft spot some people have. If little Cled is being a bother, and Cled's "biological production plant" is sporting a vacancy in the top floors, go through "accounting." Make them unhappy too.

Tuesday, Jul 22 at 10:18 PM Old Hippie wrote ...

Peace, love and all that. Bring back the sixties and flower power. Gotta love one another and fear God. We all got problems and woes. As Rodney King said, " Can't we all just get along?" Guess not at Koontz Lake the other day.

Tuesday, Jul 22 at 8:23 PM Koontz Lake Res since '91 wrote ...

Starke County Police are a joke at Koontz Lake-the Koontz Lake Association used to PAY them $12.50 per hr.-out of PRIVATE donations-just to drive up to the lake and do routine patrols like they SHOULD be doing anyway-until it got too expensive. Starke County Police hate driving all the way up here & when they do, they refuse to do anything anyway. We need to become part of St. Joe County. Koontz Lake is part of Walkerton, but in a different county which makes no sense.

Tuesday, Jul 22 at 8:18 PM Anonymous wrote ...

steve-o why dont you leave?

Tuesday, Jul 22 at 8:14 PM gene wrote ...

DID THEY COME FROM SOUTH BEND?

Tuesday, Jul 22 at 8:06 PM ft wrote ...

it is sad such a small group makes such a loud statement when the rest of the lake is good.

Tuesday, Jul 22 at 7:43 PM Steve-O wrote ...

Kitty, if you don't like it leave or become a police officer. If you can't do that, then you need to become a thug like us. But, whatever you do, quit your hillbilly whining

Tuesday, Jul 22 at 5:56 PM kitty wrote ...

what makes me sick is the deterioration of my hometown......lived here for 50 yrs now..........kids run the streets all night long..parents should be held accountable

Tuesday, Jul 22 at 5:37 PM Sick and Tired of the teens here wrote ...

I for one Live in Koontz Lake and am sick and tired of these stupid teens that run this town WAKE UP Parents and neighbors around here We have to do something These teens are running this town and bullying everyone and I am sick of it. The Cops aren't doing anyting and never have and probably never will so we as a community have to come together and do something Most of these teens parents are druggies and have no idea whats going on and they should be busted too But Again WHERE ARE THE COPS

Tuesday, Jul 22 at 1:45 PM Anonymous wrote ...

What is up with teen fights, They (some of them) seem to think that fighting is the ONLY way. I wish we could make them realize some how that physical fighting never solves anything, it just makes thing worse.

Tuesday, Jul 22 at 12:43 PM The Thinker wrote ...

Maybe they should make the local little league seasons longer so this won't happen. They already last half the year anyway.

Tuesday, Jul 22 at 12:26 PM Anonymous wrote ...

Starke County Sheriff's are never near Koontz Lake. How long did it take them to respond? Those of us who live in Koontz Lake want to know the exact details. Koontz Lake residents are never informed due to the Starke County commissions, board, and sheriff's office.

Tuesday, Jul 22 at 10:56 AM dk wrote ...

They must be pretty tough if it took a large group and baseball bats to beat up these two kids. Wonder if it will appear on Youtube. At least they were released from the hospital.

Tuesday, Jul 22 at 9:08 AM Koontz lake wrote ...

The starke co. police have been told many times there has been a problem with teens in the area and have done nothing,that doesn't make it wright to beat these teens.What did they do to make a large crowd do this.

Tuesday, Jul 22 at 8:16 AM ms wrote ...

Unbelievable. If this large crowd has so much energy why don't they try volunteering or cleaning up roads - there's got to be a better use for this pent up energy. It's a shame someone in the crowd didn't have enough sense to call the police ahead of time. It will be interesting to see what this was all about.

Add a comment

Name:

Comment: 500 Characters Left

Comments are moderated and will not appear on this story until after they have been reviewed and deemed appropriate for posting.

WSBT and its affiliated companies are not responsible for the content of comments posted or for anything arising out of use of the above comments or other interaction among the users. We reserve the right to screen, refuse to post, remove or edit user-generated content at any time and for any or no reason in our absolute and sole discretion without prior notice, although we have no duty to do so or to monitor any Public Forum.

WSBT Weather

icon
Current Temp 55
°
More Weather

On Demand

More On Demand

Stock Quotes
This content requires the latest Adobe Flash Player and a browser with JavaScript enabled. Click here for a free download of the latest Adobe Flash Player.

Tonight On WSBTFull Schedule

7.00
Wheel of Fortune
7.30
Jeopardy!
8.00
NCIS
9.00
The Mentalist
10.00
Without A Trace
11.00
WSBT News
11.35
Late Show with David Letterman

Question of The Day

How are you enjoying the unseasonably warm weather?

E-mail your comments. We'll pick some to read during WSBT News at 5:30.