Richland County Sheriff's Office

Prescription Drug Take Back Day

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The Richland Center Police Department will host Prescription Drug Take Back Day
April 30th From 10:00am – 2:00pm

The Richland Center Police Department, in cooperation with the Wisconsin Department of Justice (DOJ) and the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), will again be participating in a Prescription Drug Take-Back initiative. The event will take place on Saturday, April 30th from 10:00am-2:00pm at the Richland Center Police Department located at 470 S. Main St. in Richland Center.

This effort will continue to bring an increased focus on the issue of prescription opiate abuse. The goal of the Take-Back Day is to provide a safe, convenient and responsible means of disposal, while also educating the community about the potential for abuse and consequences of improper storage and disposal of these medications.

“Proper drug disposal is one way to substantially reduce the abuse of prescription narcotic painkillers,” Chief Lucas Clements said. “Storing potentially dangerous drugs in a secure location and disposing of them promptly after use will reduce the availability to people improperly using these substances.”

Unused or expired medicine should never be flushed or poured down the drain. Water reclamation facilities are not designed to remove all of them and trace amounts of pharmaceuticals are showing up in rivers and lakes around the world.

Guidelines:

All waste pharmaceuticals must be generated by a household – no businesses are allowed.

Bring: Prescription (controlled and non-controlled) and over-the-counter medications, ointments, patches, non-aerosol sprays, creams, vials and pet medications.

Do Not Bring: Illegal drugs, needles/sharps, inhalers, aerosol cans, bio-hazardous materials (anything containing a bodily fluid or blood), personal care products (shampoo, soaps, lotions, and sunscreens), household hazardous waste (paint, pesticides, oil, and gas), mercury thermometers.

  • Participants may dispose of solid, non-liquid medication(s) by removing the medication from its container and disposing of it directly into a disposal box or into a clear sealable plastic bag. Plastic pill containers should not be collected. Blister packages are acceptable without the medications being removed.
  • Liquids will be accepted during this initiative. However, the liquids, creams and sprays must be in their original packaging and evenly distributed within the boxes of collected solid prescription medications. Liquids without the original packaging will not be accepted.
  • Illicit substances such as marijuana or methamphetamine are not a part of this initiative and should not be placed in collection containers.

Chief Clements added that over the past five years, local efforts utilizing this free service have collected approximately 400 pounds of prescription drugs for disposal from our community. Chief Clements states he has been impressed with past collection results and encourages citizens to keep taking advantage of the service. This service is free and anonymous, with no questions asked.

Person of Interest Named in Death Investigation

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Andrew WeedenCounty Sheriff James J. Bindl announced this morning the identity of a male subject who is a person of interest in the recent death investigation in Orion Township.

On Saturday February 20th, the Sheriff’s Department received a 911 call from a residence on Catherine Street in the town of Orion.  When deputies arrived they found the body of Rachael A. Pauls inside the residence.   Deputies were told a male subject had fled the scene. After a quick and successful search by Richland County K9 TITAN. Andrew T. Weeden, 29 years old, was taken into custody on a probation violation.

Weeden is being held in the Richland County Jail.  According to Sheriff Bindl, Andrew Weeden is being considered a person of interest at this time.  Sheriff Bindl wants to reassure residents there is no danger to the public.

The incident remains under investigation.

Richland County Sheriff’s Department

Death Investigation in Orion Township

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Officials of the Richland County Sheriff’s Department are investigating a death in Orion Township in southern Richland County.  The Communications Center received a 911 call at approximately 2:44 pm Saturday reporting a subject who needed medical attention at 22004 Catherine St. in the Town of Orion.  When Emergency responders and Sheriff’s Deputies arrived at the scene, the body of a 32 year old female was located inside the residence.  The woman found dead as Rachael A. Pauls, 32, of Muscoda. It appeared the victim had suffered substantial trauma to her face. Deputies began a search for a male subject who had reportedly fled the scene.  Richland County Sheriff’s Sgt. Dane Kanable deployed K-9 TITAN who quickly and successfully tracked and located that male subject.  He was detained for questioning and subsequently booked into the Richland County Jail on a probation violation.   The Richland County Sheriff’s Department is working closely with the Richland County District Attorneys Office.  The incident remains under investigation.

Other Agencies assisting in the incident: Muscoda EMS, Muscoda Police Department, Richland County Coroners Office, Richland County District Attorneys Office, Wisconsin State Patrol, Wisconsin Department of Justice Mobile Crime Lab and the Wisconsin Department of Criminal Investigation

– Richland County Sheriff’s Department

Press Release – February 20, 2016

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Richland County Officials are investigating an incident that happened yesterday in Orion township, in the southern part of Richland County.

The Richland County Communications Center received a 911 call at approximately 2:45 pm, Saturday, February 20th, reporting a subject who needed medical care at a residence in the village of Orion.  Emergency Medical Services and Law Enforcement from Muscoda and the Richland County Sheriff’s Department responded to the scene.   After arrival it was determined that the incident warranted further investigation by law enforcement, and the investigation is continuing at this hour.  Officials want to stress there is no danger to the public from this incident.  The investigation continues.

Richland County Sheriff’s Department

Arrest Warrants Result in Numerous Felony Drug Crimes

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Chief Lucas Clements of the Richland Center Police Department reports that on January 27th, members of the Richland County Special Response Team along with local members of the Richland-Iowa-Grant Drug Task Force conducted an arrest warrant operation in the City of Richland Center. As a result of that operation, two Richland Center residents were arrested for numerous felony drug crimes. The operation was the culmination of a drug investigation by local members of the Richland-Iowa-Grant Drug Task Force.

Stephen J. Szuflita, 40, was arrested and tentatively charged for Maintaining a Drug Trafficking Place (4 counts), Manufacture/Deliver Schedule II Drugs, Manufacture/Deliver Schedule IV Drugs (2 counts), Manufacture/Deliver THC (3 counts), Possession of THC, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Bail Jumping.

Regina M. Heather, 42, was arrested and tentatively charged for Maintaining a Drug Trafficking Place (3 counts), Possession of Methamphetamine and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

All charges have been forwarded to Richland County District Attorney Jennifer Harper for prosecution.

The Richland County Special Response Team is a combined tactical unit consisting of officers from the Richland Center Police Department and deputies from the Richland County Sheriff’s Department.

Also assisting with the investigation were Richland County Health and Human Services and Richland County EMS.

Chief Clements would like to point out the effort of the Richland-Iowa-Grant Drug Task Force members in regards to this investigation. Chief Clements notes the results of this investigation show the reality of what law enforcement faces daily, whether on patrol or working a drug investigation, specifically polydrug use and abuse.

Polydrug use is the use of two or more drugs in combination with one another. Polydrug use has led to increasing health concerns including potentially fatal overdoses. The arrests in this investigation take this “one stop shop” for drug users out of the equation in our community.

Chief Clements along with Richland County Sheriff James J. Bindl would like to remind citizens to report any suspicious activity by notifying law enforcement. Callers who wish to remain anonymous can call Richland Area Crime Stoppers at 647-CLUE (2583) and may be eligible for a cash reward.

Richland Center Police Department

Police Department Concludes Arson Investigation

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The Richland Center Police Department and the Richland Center Fire Department have concluded their investigation into a fire that occurred at the Dr. Killian Meyer building in Krouskop Park on January 17th, 2016.

According to Chief of Police Lucas Clements, at approximately 2:23 pm on January 17, 2016, police and fire were dispatched to the Dr. Killian Meyer building located in Krouskop Park for a report of a fire. Officers from both departments responded and initial information indicated that a fire had occurred inside both the men’s and women’s restrooms of the building.

According to Fire Chief Bob Bindl, responders found that the interior of the bathrooms had experienced a fire which had self-extinguished, with the majority of the damage occurring in the men’s restroom. Fire Chief Bob Bindl noted the fire caused extensive smoke damage throughout the building.

According to City of Richland Center Parks, Recreation, and Grounds Director Shane Stibbe, who has been working with insurance adjusters throughout the past week, preliminary estimates concerning damage caused by the fire are at a minimum of approximately $70,000.

Chief Clements reports that on January 20th, 2016 at approximately 7:56 pm an Officer with the Richland Center Police Department received a tip with information concerning the fire and passed the information on to the investigating Officer.

Following up on this tip, the investigating Officer, through interviews and timely police work, found that three juveniles were responsible for setting the fire in the Dr. Killian Meyer building on January 17th. The juveniles, two from Richland Center and one from Lone Rock, have been referred to Richland County Health and Human Services for the crime of arson.

Assisting with the investigation were members of the Richland Center Fire Department, City Parks, Recreation and Grounds Department, and Richland County Health and Human Services.

Chief Clements states, “This is a prime example of how our community stepped up, took pride in what we have as a community, and provided information with the departments listed above to help solve an investigation and ultimately make our community safer.”

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Richland Center Woman Arrested for the Distribution of Heroin

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Ashley A DurstChief Lucas Clements of the Richland Center Police Department along with Sheriff James J. Bindl of the Richland County Sheriff’s Department report that an investigation conducted by the Richland-Iowa-Grant Drug Task Force has culminated in the arrest of a Richland Center woman for the distribution of heroin. Ashley A. Durst, 29, was arrested for one count of Delivery of Heroin, which occurred in the City of Richland Center. During the investigation Durst also delivered heroin on another occasion, however it occurred in a different jurisdiction. The case has been forwarded to the Richland County District Attorney’s Office for prosecution.

The Richland-Iowa-Grant Drug Task Force is a Tri-County combined investigative unit. Locally, members from the Richland Center Police Department and the Richland County Sheriff’s Department are assigned to investigate and combat area drug trafficking and abuse.

Chief Clements stated that highly addictive substances, such as Heroin and other narcotics, continues to be a focus of the Drug Task Force as it has been an increasing problem in the area, which has seen an increase in narcotic overdoses, some even resulting in death. Sheriff Bindl noted that narcotic distribution and/or usage has also been shown to be a contributing factor to other crimes against persons and property.

Chief Clements and Sheriff Bindl would like to remind citizens to report any suspicious activity by notifying law enforcement. Callers who wish to remain anonymous can call Richland Area Crime Stoppers at 647-2583 and may be eligible for a cash reward.

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Disturbance leads to Arrest in Lone Rock

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On January 15, 2016, at 4:55pm, the Richland County Communications Center received a call of a male subject, believed to be intoxicated, shooting a rifle in the village of Lone Rock.  Richland County Deputies responded and attempted contact with the residence where the subject lives and got no answer.  Further investigation led Deputies to believe there to be a female subject in the home also, and the male showed a criminal history including battery to law enforcement and the fact he was a felon and could not possess firearms.

Public safety concerns led  to a request for the Sauk County Sheriff’s Department Emergency Response Team and the Dane County Team for their armored vehicle.  Negotiations with the suspects to come out and speak with law enforcement went into the early morning hours.  The male was uncooperative, and stated several times he would shoot any deputies who entered the home.    Deputies used OC gas grenades launched from the armored vehicle to get the suspects out of the residence.  The two were taken into custody at around 5:12am.   No injuries were reported.  Charges are pending with the Richland County District Attorneys Office.

Involved: Scott G. Schalow, 43 of Lone Rock, WI 53556 and Tammy L. Hoffman, 52 of Lone Rock, WI 5355

Other Agencies Involved: Richland County District Attorney’s Office, Sauk County Emergency Response Team, Sauk County Negotiations Team, Dane County Emergency Response Team, Village of Lone Rock, Lone Rock EMS, Lone Rock Fire Dept., and Richland County Emergency Management

Arrest or Charges: Scott Schalow:  Felon in possession of a weapon, Disorderly conduct, and a probation hold.

 

Richland County Sheriff’s Department

January 2016 Squad Car Bid – Interceptor

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The Richland County Sheriff’s Department, under the authority of the Richland County Law Enforcement and Judiciary Committee, is currently accepting bids for the purchase of one (1) Police Package 2016 Fleet/Non-Retail Ford Utility Police Interceptor AWD, 4 door K8A vehicle to be delivered within 90 days of the order being placed.

Interceptor Specs

Bids must be received by Friday, January 29, 2016 at 4:00p.m.   Bids will be accepted by U.S. Mail or hand delivery to the Sheriff’s Department.

If mailing bids, address to:

Squad Car Bids
c/o Chief Deputy Chad Kanable
Richland County Sheriff’s Department
181 W. Seminary Street
Richland Center, WI 53581

Bidders will include all fees associated with the purchase. The bid you give will be a “drive away” figure and will include all dealer fees.

Received bids will be reviewed by the Richland County Law Enforcement and Judiciary Committee. Richland County reserves the right to accept or reject any bid and will consider bids most advantageous to the county.   Richland County reserves the right to accept or reject portions of bids. The County also reserves the right to reject all bids and consider purchase from the State of Wisconsin Cooperative Purchasing Program (State Bid).

Authority: Sheriff James J. Bindl – On behalf of the Richland County Law Enforcement and Judicial Committee

 

Sheriff’s Department Selects New K9 Handler

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K9_CzysThe Richland County Sheriff’s Department has named their next K9 handler. The selection came through an internal promotion process where Deputy Mike Czys was awarded the position. A management panel that included the Sheriff, Chief Deputy, Lieutenant, and Sergeants made this decision.

Czys joined the Sheriff’s Department as a Jailer/Dispatcher in 2012 after receiving a Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice from the University of Wisconsin Eau Claire and graduating from The Law Enforcement Academy at Chippewa Valley Technical College. In 2014 Czys was promoted to Road Patrol and has had a lifelong interest in becoming a K9 Handler. Czys stated that his interest in becoming a K9 handler stems from a passion to combat the growing drug problem in the area and a desire to utilize the K9 to practice a community based policing model.

Community Based Policing is a term that refers to a type of policing where law enforcement and the community work together toward common goals. The Sheriff’s Department believes that public K9 demonstrations and appearances in area schools and businesses that show the K9’s abilities is a way to strengthen the relationship between law enforcement and the community. The public also has an important role in the success of the fight against drugs: reporting suspicious activity or any other information to Richland County Crime Stoppers, properly disposing of unused prescription medications, and educating youth on the dangers of drugs are all great ways for law enforcement and the community to come together to fight the problem at hand

The drug problem in Richland County and the surrounding areas is a growing concern, and the Sheriff’s Department believes that a K9 that is specially trained in the detection of narcotics is crucial to fight the problem. In recent years, there has been an increase in the availability and abuse of more illicit drugs including heroin, methamphetamine, and prescription pills. These substances coupled with marijuana, cocaine, and other drugs are becoming more potent and unpredictable as they are brought in from larger cities onto Richland County’s streets and highways, and eventually into our homes. Drugs are affecting the community by causing overdose deaths, and can also be linked to thefts, burglaries, and other property crimes. [Read more…]

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