Richland County Sheriff's Office

Two Arrested for Drug Charges from WI DNR Warrant

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WHEN: 10/19/2021
TIME of Incident: 08:15 P.M.

WHO Involved: Dominic Stanek, 58, of Viola, WI
Dennis Stanek, 56 of Readstown, WI

WHERE Incident Happened: 16073 Thirteen Rd Viola, WI 54664 & 10567 County HWY A Viola, WI 54664

What happened: Sheriff Clay Porter reports that on 10/19/2021 the Richland County Sheriff’s Department was assisting the WI DNR execute search warrants at two addresses in Richland County due to a multi-year poaching investigation where over 150 deer were illegally killed. While searching the two properties Wardens located an upstairs room with a large amount of green leafy substance at the address of 16073 Thirteen Rd. There was a large tote located that had 3lbs of individually packed containers that after field testing the substance did show a positive test result for marijuana. Suspect parties Dominic and Dennis Stanek are co-owners of the property and were both arrested for possession w/intent to deliver THC and maintaining a drug trafficking location. WI DNR still has an ongoing investigation for natural resource violations.

Arrest or Charges: 61.41(1m)(h)1 Possession W/Intent to Deliver THC & 961.42(1) Maintain Drug Trafficking Location

Homicide Investigation After Physical Altercation Leads to Fatal Shooting

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WHEN: 7/31/2021
TIME of Incident: 09:10 P.M.

WHO Involved: Lori M. Miller, 43, of Muscoda, WI
Benjamin C. Brewer, 33, of Muscoda, WI

Other Agencies Involved: Richland County Sheriff’s Department, Viola Police Department, Vernon County Sheriff’s Department, LaFarge EMS, Richland County Coroners Office and the Wisconsin Department of Justice State Crime Lab

WHERE Incident Happened: Forest Township

What happened: On 07/31/2021 at approximately 9:10pm Richland County dispatch received a 911 call regarding a male party who had been shot and needed an ambulance. Deputies and EMS were dispatched to the call, but the male party, identified as Benjamin C. Brewer of Muscoda, died before help could arrive. Benjamin was shot during a physical altercation with girlfriend Lori M. Miller of Muscoda. Lori was transported by EMS for minor injuries and later booked into the Richland County Jail. This case is still under investigation.

Arrest or Charges: 940.06(1) Second Degree Reckless Homicide

Welfare Check Ended with One Arrest

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WHEN: 7/18/2021
TIME of Incident: 03:58 A.M.

WHO Involved: Matthew Hastings, 30, of Cazenovia, WI

Other Agencies Involved: Richland Center Police Department, Richland County Ambulance Service

WHERE Incident Happened:Tamarack Drive, Cazenovia, WI

What happened: On July 18, 2021 at 3:58 am Richland County Dispatch received a call requesting a welfare check on Matthew Hastings and his family. The caller was concerned about an incident that took place in Yuba involving the Hastings family. Richland County Dispatch received another call from a different party who was at the Hastings residence. That party stated that Matthew had a gun and was in the residence with his family. Deputies and Officers from the Richland Center Police Department set up a perimeter around the home. Phone contact was made with Matthew and was later taken into custody without incident. No one was injured during the incident. K9 Rambo was deployed and was able to locate the firearm outside the residence. Matthew was transported to the Richland County Jail.

Arrest or Charges: Going armed while intoxicated, 2nd Degree Reckless Endangering Safety and Disorderly Conduct

Semi Crash results in Minor Injuries and Highway Shut Down

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On July 15, 2021 at approximately 5:30am the Richland County Sheriff’s Department received a call about an semi that over turned on US HWY 14 causing both lanes to be blocked. Emergency personal responded to the crash. The male driver and female passenger were transported to the Richland Hospital for minor injuries. Wegner and Shields Towing responded to assist in the clean up process. The details of the crash are still under investigation.

Other Agencies Involved: Wegner Towing, Sheild’s Towing, Richland Highway Department, Richland Center Fire Department, Richland County EMS, Vernon County Sheriff Department and the Wisconsin State Patrol

Man drowned in the Wisconsin River after falling in while fishing.

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On 06/19/2021 at approximately 5:52PM the Richland County Sheriff’s Department received a 911 call that a male party was possibly drowning in the Wisconsin River near the Gotham Boat Landing. The male party was reported to be seen by one witness falling into the water and by other witnesses prior to being pulled under water by the current. The male party was later located down river by the assisting Fire Departments and transported back to shore. He was then transported by Lone Rock EMS to the Richland Hospital with CPR in progress. The male party was later pronounced deceased at the Richland Hospital. Through investigation of the scene, it is believed that the male party had fallen into the river while fishing along the river bank near the boat landing.

Other Agencies Involved: Lone Rock Fire Department, Lone Rock EMS, Blue River Fire Department, & Spring Green Fire Department

Traffic Stop Leads to OWI, Warrant, and Drug Arrests

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WHEN: 5/9/2021
TIME of Incident: 11:01 P.M.

WHO Involved:
Chelsey M. Bass, 24, of Richland Center, WI
Darien A. Coberley, 21, of Baraboo, WI
Nicholas A. Jones, 30, of Richland Center, WI

Other Agencies Involved: Richland Center Police Department

WHERE Incident Happened:US HWY 14 just West of the City of Richland Center

What happened:On 05/09/2021 at approximately 11:01pm, a deputy with the Richland County Sheriff’s Department conducted a traffic stop of a vehicle for having a suspended registered owner. During the traffic stop, K9 Rambo was deployed and alerted to the presence of narcotics inside of the vehicle. Multiple items were found inside of the vehicle including methamphetamine, psychedelic mushrooms, marijuana, and several items of paraphernalia including used needles, smoking devices, a scale, and a grinder. Three of the four adult passengers in the vehicle were arrested. There was also a 4 year old in a car seat in the back seat of the vehicle.

Arrest or Charges:
Chelsey Bass – OWI 1st w/ Passenger under 16, Possession of THC, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
Nicholas Jones – Child Support Warrant Out of Richland County
Darien Coberley – Possession Of Methamphetamine, Possession of Psilocybin, Possession Of THC, Possession Of Drug Paraphernalia, Felony Bailjumping

Lone Rock Man Arrested After Tasing Mother on Mother’s Day

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WHEN: 5/9/2021
TIME of Incident: 2:42 P.M.

WHO Involved:
Andrew C. Peterson, 22, of Lone Rock, WI
Colleen T. Parker 20, of Lone Rock, WI

Other Agencies Involved: Richland Center Police Department

WHERE Incident Happened:1057 Sunflower Street, Lone Rock, WI

What happened: On 5/9/2021 at 2:42 PM, a 43 year old female victim reported to the Sheriff’s Dept that her 22 year old son had just used an electronic weapon (aka Taser) on her during a domestic disturbance on Mothers Day. The victim reported that her son became upset because he could not find his phone. The victim reported that her son used the electronic weapon (aka Taser) on her by applying it to her neck and activating the electronic weapon. The victim said that her son and his girlfriend and their small child have been living with her for the last several months. The victim said that shortly after the incident, Andrew Peterson, Colleen Parker and their small child left the residence in a vehicle.
Andrew Peterson and Colleen Parker were arrested a short time later in Richland Center where Peterson admitted to using an electronic weapon (aka Taser) on his mother on Mothers Day. Colleen Parker admitted to being involved in another domestic disturbance on 5/6/2021. Colleen Parker admitted that she punched the victim in the face during the earlier disturbance.

Arrest or Charges:
Andrew C. Peterson – Battery, Disorderly Conduct, (Domestic Abuse Related), Bail Jumping and Possession of Electronic Weapon
Colleen T. Parker – Battery, Disorderly Conduct (Domestic Abuse Related)

Traffic Stop Leads to Seizure of Heroin and Methamphetamine.

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WHEN: 04/23/2021

WHO Involved:
Benjamin J. Peterson, 26 of Mazomanie, WI

TIME of Incident: 7:30 P.M.

Other Agencies Involved:
Richland Center Police Department

WHERE Incident Happened: E. Gage St. Richland Center

What happened: On 04/23/2021 at approximately 7:30 PM a deputy with the Richland County Sheriff’s Department conducted a traffic stop near Foremost Farms on E. Gage Street in the City of Richland Center. The vehicle was stopped for registration violations and suspicious activity. Contact was made with the driver, Benjamin J. Peterson of Mazomanie. During the subsequent investigation of the stop and search of the vehicle, law enforcement located approximately 30 grams of methamphetamine and .6 grams of heroin. Peterson was arrested and transported to the Richland County Jail for drug offenses. The Richland Center Police Department assisted on scene and the investigation in still ongoing.

The Richland County Sheriff’s Department asks the public to report any suspicious activity by calling the non-emergency line at 608-647-2106 or Richland County Crime Stoppers at 608-647-2583. All callers can remain anonymous.

Search Operation for Mason Fenton ends in the discovery of a fatal ATV Crash

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WHEN: 4/25/2021

Other Agencies Involved:
Richland Center Fire Department
Sauk County Sheriff’s Department
Viola Fire Department
LaFarge Fire Department
Cazenovia Fire Department
Lone Rock Fire Department
Middleton Fire Department
Kickapoo EMS
Vernon County EM

TIME of Incident: 12:50 A.M.

 
Richland Center Police Department
Grant County Sheriff’s Department
Yuba Fire Department
Muscoda Fire Department
Blue River Fire Department
Fort McCoy Fire Department
Richland County EMS
Richland County EM
Wisconsin DNR

WHO Involved: Mason M. Fenton, 16 of Richland Center, WI

What happened: On 04/25/2021 at approximately 10:57PM the Richland County Sheriff’s Department received a call of a juvenile male who had not returned home from riding his ATV. An extensive search began attempting to locate Mason Fenton near his residence in Dayton Township. Several area Fire and EMS departments along with several K-9 and Drone teams responded to assist with the search. At approximately 3:39AM on 4/26/2021 a Richland County Sheriff’s sergeant located the ATV crashed on Crow Hill School Road. Mason Fenton was found deceased a short distance from the scene of the crash.

The crash is being investigated by the Wisconsin DNR.