Sheriff Jim Bindl of the Richland County Sheriff’s Department reports that, on 1-17-20, Agents from the Alcohol Tobacco Enforcement division of the Wisconsin Department of Revenue (DOR) requested assistance of local law enforcement while inspections were conducted at the four taverns in the village of Cazenovia. As law enforcement entered Rumor’s tavern, a “protective sweep” of the establishment was performed to determine who may be present. During the protective sweep a male subject who had an active felony arrest warrant was located.
Joseph M. Lobsinger, 33 of Cazenovia, was taken into custody for the felony warrant without incident. During that arrest, Lobsinger made reference to a firearm being nearby. A loaded, but cased, rifle was then found within close proximity to Lobsinger. Lobsinger was subsequently arrested for Felon in Possession of a Firearm. In addition to the open felony case in Sauk County for which the arrest warrant had been issued, Lobsinger was also out of custody on three open felony cases in Juneau County and one in Richland County. Therefore, Lobsinger was also arrested on both Felony and Misdemeanor Bail Jumping charges.
Also during the protective sweep of Rumor’s tavern, drug paraphernalia associated with the consumption of methamphetamine was observed in plain view by law enforcement. The Richland County District Attorney’s Office was contacted and a Search Warrant for the establishment was obtained.
During the subsequent search of Rumors tavern, various items associated with drug use and distribution were located and seized as evidence. The Rumor’s tavern manager, Carla Zimmerman, was not present during the search and would not provide law enforcement with her location. However, based on the contraband located during the execution of the Search Warrant, once located, Zimmerman, 54 of Cazenovia, is to be arrested on the tentative charges of Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Deliver, Possession of Marijuana with Intent to Deliver, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and Maintaining a Drug Trafficking Place.
All charges have been forwarded to the Richland County District Attorney’s Office for prosecution.
In addition to Agents from the DOR, the Richland County Sheriff’s Department was assisted on scene by the Richland-Iowa-Grant Drug Task Force, the Richland Center Police Department, the Sauk County Sheriff’s Department, and the Wisconsin Department of Justice, Division of Criminal Investigation.
Sheriff Bindl states that local and State agencies consistently work together to combat those involved in the use/distribution of controlled substances and the criminal activity often associated with it, and that this investigation was a great example of that cooperation. Sheriff Bindl added that the public also plays a critical role in assisting law enforcement with this effort.
Any citizen who has information concerning any illegal activity is encouraged to call the Richland Center Police Department at 608-647-2103 or the Richland County Sheriff’s Department at 608-647-2106. Callers who wish to remain anonymous can call Richland Area Crime Stoppers at 647-CLUE (2583) and may be eligible for a cash reward.
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