Richland County Sheriff's Department

Search Warrant Leads to Drugs, Paraphernalia, and Money Seized

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On 05-21-2019, the Richland-Iowa-Grant Drug Task Force along with the Richland County Special Response Team executed a drug related search warrant at the address of 28875 McNurlin Street in the Village of Gotham. A search of the residence was conducted and officers located methamphetamine, marijuana, and U.S. currency. Also located were numerous items of drug paraphernalia to include: used syringes, glass smoking devices, a digital scale, a drug ledger/log, and plastic baggies with residue. The suspect, William C. Giddings was arrested and transported to the Richland County Jail on numerous drug related offenses. The public is encouraged to report any suspicious/drug activity to Richland County Crime Stoppers at 647-Clue(2583).

Other agencies involved were the Richland Center Police Department and Lone Rock EMS.

As a result of the investigation Giddings was placed under arrest for the following tentative charges:

William Giddings

  • Possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine
  • Possession with intent to deliver THC
  • Maintaining a drug trafficking place
  • Possession of drug paraphernalia
  • Resisting or obstructing an officer

RCPD Click It or Ticket 2019

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Richland Center Police Department to mobilize for Click It or Ticket safety belt enforcement from May 20th to June 2nd.

Chief Lucas Clements points out that this year marks the 10-year anniversary of Wisconsin’s primary enforcement seat belt law. Since the law took effect in June of 2009, Wisconsin’s seat belt use rate has climbed from 74 percent in 2009, to just over 89 percent today. Over the last decade alone, numerous motorists in Wisconsin have avoided serious injury or death thanks to the simple click of a seat belt.

Still, law enforcement and other emergency responders see far too many people who make the dangerous – and frankly – irresponsible decision to not wear a safety belt. Last year, about half of the car and truck occupants killed in Wisconsin traffic crashes were not buckled up. These needless tragedies devastate families and generate enormous societal costs. Chief Clements states, “As part of our larger public safety mission, the Richland Center Police Department will join law enforcement agencies across Wisconsin as part of the national Click It or Ticket mobilization May 20 to June 2.”

Across our state and nation, officers will work in greater numbers for longer hours – not to simply stop and cite motorists – but to encourage everyone to voluntarily comply with traffic laws that serve to keep the public safe. During Click It or Ticket – and throughout the year – our goal is to ensure that all motorists are safely buckled up – every seat, every trip

Click It or Ticket 2019

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Date: May 9, 2019
For more information contact: Sheriff James J Bindl 608-647-2106

Richland County Sheriff’s Department to mobilize for Click It or Ticket safety belt enforcement from May 20th to June 2nd.

The Richland County Sheriff’s Department will join hundreds of law enforcement agencies throughout Wisconsin for the annual Click It or Ticket safety belt enforcement campaign from May 20 to June 2.

“As we enter another major travel season, we’re reminding motorists that wearing a safety belt is the single most effective way to protect themselves and prevent needless tragedies along our roadways,” said Sheriff Bindl.

Currently, Wisconsin’s seat belt use rate stands at 89 percent, behind our neighboring states of Minnesota and Michigan that are both over 90 percent. Last year, about half of the car and truck occupants killed in Wisconsin traffic crashes were not buckled up.

“Our goal is voluntary compliance with traffic laws, not to write citations,”Sheriff Bindl said. “But given a choice, we’d much rather write a ticket than have to knock on someone’s door and inform them that a loved one has been killed or seriously injured in a crash. So we’re reminding all motorists to buckle up, every seat, every trip ”

This year marks the 10-year anniversary of Wisconsin’s primary seat belt law that allows law enforcement to stop and cite motorists for failing to wear a safety belt. In addition, drivers can be cited for every unbuckled passenger in their vehicle. Last year in Wisconsin, there were 50,875 traffic convictions for failure to fasten seat belts.

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Download printable news release – Click it or ticket 2019

Two Vehicle Crash Involving School Bus

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On 04/29/19 Richland County Dispatch received the report of a 2 vehicle crash on State Hwy 80 South of the City of Richland Center between a SUV and a School bus. 

Parker was operating a 2014 SUV Southbound on STH 80 which was slowed/stopped in traffic due to a vehicle in front of her attempting to turn left into Wegner Auto Service. Downs was operating a 2017 School Bus for Kobussen also traveling South and failed to stop for the vehicles stopped in front of him, causing a crash. Parker was transported by private vehicle to seek medical attention. There were no injuries reported to the students on the bus. The crash is still under investigation.

WHO INVOLVED:
Miranda Parker, 40 of Richland Center
Steven Downs, 62 of Richland Center

WHEN: 04-29-19          TIME of Incident: 7:22AM        Location: State Hwy 80 South of Richland Center

Other Agencies Involved:
Richland Center Police Department

Arrests or Charges:
Downs was cited for Failure to have control of a vehicle.

National Telecommunicators Week

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In honor of National Telecommunicators Week, April 14-20, 2019, the Richland County Sheriff’s Department wants to recognize the hard working and dedicated professionals that serve the citizens of Richland County as 911 Telecommunicators & Jailers.

911 Dispatchers are the 1st First Responders!

 

Sergeant Rita McCarthy
Deputy Nettie Collins
Deputy Susan Barnes
Deputy Chuck Giese
Deputy Steve Sanders
Deputy Randy Nelson
Deputy Kyla Turner
Deputy Casey Marshall
Deputy Chris Schildgen
Deputy Brittany Clark
Deputy Zachary Halverson
Deputy Savanah DuCharme
Deputy Meggie Elliott
Deputy Diane Collins

 

Thank you for your dedicated service to Richland County.
Sheriff James J. Bindl

Don’t Buy Into Publishers Clearinghouse Phone Scam

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The Richland County Sheriff’s Department has recently taken a fraud complaint in which the victim received a phone call informing them that they had won the “Publisher’s Clearing House” prize.  The prize included $2.5 million dollars, a 2019 Mercedes Benz, and a duffle bag with $400,000 in cash.  The male party that called stated that the victim needed to send $753 to claim the prize and register the new vehicle.

The victim, recognizing this as a scam, contacted the Sheriff’s Department to report it prior to sending any money.  Law enforcement contacted the Publisher’s Clearing House Scam Hotline and it was determined that this was an attempted fraud.

Sheriff Bindl advises the public to contact the Sheriff’s Department if they feel they are being scammed, and to not send any money to claim any “prize”.  Publisher’s Clearing House also encourages the public to report any fraudulent behavior using their name at 1-800-392-4190

Grand Jury Returns Indictment

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Richland Center Police Chief Lucas Clements would like to pass on a press release from the United States Department of Justice, involving the indictment of a Richland Center resident for possessing methamphetamine with the intent to deliver.

MADISON, WIS. — A federal grand jury in the Western District of Wisconsin, sitting in Madison, returned the following indictment.  You are advised that a charge is merely an accusation and that a defendant is presumed innocent until and unless proven guilty.

Joshua Clarke, 31, Richland Center, Wisconsin, is charged with possessing methamphetamine with the intent to distribute.  The indictment alleges that he possessed the methamphetamine on November 11, 2018.

Link to initial press release https://ci.richland-center.wi.us/traffic-stop-ends-in-arrests/

Joshua D. Clarke

If convicted, Clarke faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in federal prison.  The charge against him is the result of an investigation by the Richland Center Police Department, Richland County Sheriff’s Office, Richland County District Attorney’s Office, and Drug Enforcement Administration.  The prosecution of this case is being handled by Special Assistant U.S. Attorney Chadwick Elgersma.

Adult School Crossing Guard Recognition Week

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Adult School Crossing Guards play a critical role in keeping students safe as they walk to and from school each day. Adult School Crossing Guards place the children’s safety above their own while facing speeding motorists, cell phone users, and others disregarding traffic signals to ensure that all traffic is stopped before students enter the roadway

The Richland Center Police Department and the Richland School District would like to inform the community that January 14th through January 18th, 2019, has been proclaimed Wisconsin Adult School Crossing Guard Recognition Week.

It is important that we all take the time to say thank you to our local Adult School Crossing Guard, Bill Hall, who is tasked with the responsibility for the safe crossing of children near Jefferson Elementary. No matter if it is raining, snowing, sleeting, or 10 degrees below zero, Bill Hall never fails to do his duty. So next time you walk your child to school, or drop them off at the crosswalk, be sure to thank Bill Hall for watching out for your child. It is sometimes a thankless job, but rain or shine, he is always there.

Arrest Made in Connection With Counterfeit $100 Bills

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The Richland Center Police Department would like to alert area businesses and residents to watch for counterfeit $100 bills that may begin to appear throughout Richland and surrounding counties.

On January 8th, 2019 at approximately 3:35 PM, Officers with the Richland Center Police Department received complaints of three counterfeit $100 bills being used at two local businesses within the City of Richland Center.

At approximately 5:30 PM on January 8th, 2019 the Richland Center Police Department was made aware of a counterfeit currency investigation by Officers with the Muscoda Police Department. As a result of the Muscoda Police Department investigation, probable cause was established to arrest 36 year old Michael D. Streiff for crimes he committed in Muscoda.

At approximately 10:00 PM on January 8th, 2019 Richland Center Police Officers located Streiff in the City of Richland Center, and through the subsequent investigation, Officers located 17 counterfeit $100 dollar bills in his possession.

Through further investigation, it was confirmed that the three counterfeit $100 dollar bills that had been accepted at local businesses in Richland Center earlier in the afternoon, had come from Streiff and an accomplice. The serial numbers on the counterfeit $100 bills used at the local businesses were the same as the serial numbers on the counterfeit $100 bills found on Streiff’s possession. It is unknown at this time how many of the counterfeit $100 bills may be in circulation.

On January 8th, 2019, Michael D. Streiff was arrested and transported to the Grant County Jail for charges related to the Muscoda Police Department investigation. Once Streiff’s Grant County court hearing is complete he will be turned over to Richland Center Police Department authorities and arrested for the following: Forgery (17 counts), Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of Schedule IV Drug, Possession of Prescription Drug without a Prescription, and Bail Jumping (10 counts).

All Richland Center charges will be forwarded to Richland County District Attorney Jennifer Harper for prosecution.

Chief Clements states, “The counterfeit $100 bills are obvious forgeries. They also have identical serial numbers of LB45440078L and are printed on distinctly thicker paper.”

Chief Clements is urging people and businesses to pay close attention to $100 bills. The counterfeit bills can be detected with a currency detector pen and by taking an extra second to observe the front and back of the bill.  Residents and stores are asked to carefully check bills when accepting money and turn in all suspected counterfeit bills to law enforcement as they are aware of the issue.

Chief Clements states in addition to the great police work among neighboring law enforcement agencies, the Richland Center Police Department is working with the United States Secret Service to find the source of the counterfeit money.

Child Welfare Investigation Leads to Drug Arrests

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Chief Lucas Clements of the Richland Center Police Department reports that, on 12-27-18, Officers made contact at a residence in the City of Richland Center over a reported concern that children were being exposed to methamphetamine, which was being used and distributed within the residence.

Upon contact with the occupants of the residence, Officers found numerous children, including several toddlers and a baby. Officers also located several methamphetamine pipes, including one that still had smoke coming out of it. Further investigation discovered a baggie of methamphetamine and numerous items associated with methamphetamine usage and distribution, such as pipes, pipe cleaning items, syringes, snorting straws, scales, and repackaging baggies. As a result of the investigation, the following subjects were taken into custody.

Hope M. Millard, 33 of Richland Center, was arrested and tentatively charged with Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Deliver, Maintaining a Drug Trafficking House, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Child Neglect.

Ronda K. Leffler, 53 of Richland Center, was arrested and tentatively charged with Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Deliver, Maintaining a Drug Trafficking House, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Child Neglect.

Derek J. McDiarmid, 25 of Blue River, was arrested and tentatively charged with Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Deliver, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Child Neglect, and Felony Bail Jumping.

All of the above listed drug related charges also carry a penalty enhancer because the offences took place within 1,000 feet of a park. All charges have been forwarded to the Richland County District Attorney’s Office for prosecution.

All juveniles in the house were examined by medical personnel before being released to responsible parties as determined by Richland County Child Protective Services (CPS).

In addition to CPS, the Richland Center Police Department was assisted on scene by the Richland-Iowa-Grant Drug Task Force, the Richland County Sheriff’s Department, and Richland County EMS.

Chief Clements states that this investigation was the result of a combination of consistent, sound law enforcement tactics conducted by Officers on patrol and a concerned citizen who was observant and reported their concerns to law enforcement. Chief Clements would like citizens to remain vigilant and continue to report suspicious activity, no matter how minor, noting that this case is a great example of how citizen involvement partnered with law enforcement can reduce crime within our community.

Chief Clements added that this case was also a prime example of why the Drug Endangered Children program was adopted locally in 2016. Chief Clements explained that the Drug Endangered Children program is a State program designed to increase communication and efficiency amongst agencies vested in the protection of children.

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 608-647-2016. Callers who wish to remain anonymous can call Richland Area Crime Stoppers at 647-CLUE (2583) and may be eligible for a cash reward.