Richland County Sheriff's Office

Hunter Injured in Tree Stand Incident in Forest Township

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On Saturday morning, 11-10-2018 around 10:20am, deputies from the Richland County Sheriff’s Department and Viola Fire & EMS responded to Welker Hollow Road in Forest Township for a report of a hunter hanging from a tree. An unidentified hunter from Milton, Wisconsin was using a climber stand when the stand gave way and the subject was suspended upside down about 5 ft off the ground. He had his safety harness attached, however his leg became caught in the bottom rung of the stand. A neighbor to the property was walking to the woods with his son to put up their stands when the son heard someone yelling for help. The neighbor investigated and found the subject about 30 yards into the woods off Welker Hollow. The victim indicated he had been hanging upside down for approximately 2 hrs. Viola Fire, Viola EMS & Richland County Sheriff’s Deputies freed the victim, who was then flown by Medical Helicopter to Gunderson Hospital in LaCrosse with a reported leg injury and hypothermia.

The incident took place off of Welker Hollow Road in Forest Township.

Reminders for Motorists

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Sheriff James J. Bindl reminds motorists to be extra aware of their surroundings as deer hunters enter the woods of Wisconsin.

With the increased hunting activity and the changing weather, deer and other animals are more likely to wander onto area roadways.

Sheriff Bindl also reminds motorists that while a light dusting of snow is good for the hunt, it also brings a need to extra careful as you travel.

Be sure to allow more time to get to your destination, and leave more distance between you and the car ahead of you for stopping.

Check the condition of your tires and wipers and be sure all lights on your vehicle are in working order.

Carry a cold weather kit including a blanket in your vehicles and be alert to changing weather conditions.

Deer Damages to Two Vehicles

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On November 7th, 2018 at 12:16pm, the Richland County Communications Center received a 911 call of a possible semi versus car crash west of Richland Center on US Hwy 14. Sheriff Deputies, along with the Richland Center Police Department, Richland County EMS and Richland Center Fire Department all responded to the scene. As deputies arrived it was determined that a 2013 Toyota, operated by Ann Stoltenow of Westby, was traveling west on US Hwy 14 when a deer appeared from a cornfield in to the roadway. A collision was unavoidable. Stoltenow struck the deer, the animal went airborne and flew behind her vehicle, landing on and breaking the windshield and side mirror of a 2011 Ford pickup operated by Craig Kaiser of Viroqua that was following the Stoltenow vehicle. A passing semi has witnessed the crash and stopped to render aid. Heavy damage was noted to the Stoltenow vehicle, and minor damage to the Kaiser truck. The 2013 Toyota was towed from the scene. No injuries were reported.

The incident took place on US Hwy 14, one tenth of a mile east of Vivian’s Lane in Dayton Township.

One Critically Injured in Two Vehicle Crash on Hwy 14

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At 1:21 pm a 911 call came in to the Richland County Communications Center for a 2 vehicle crash on US HWY 14 at Peebles Drive. Richland County Sheriff’s Deputies, along with the Richland Center Police Department, Richland County EMS and Richland Fire responded to the scene.

A 2004 Ford pickup operated by 54 year old Michael D. Rynes of Richland Center was traveling west on US HWY 14 when a 2005 Chevy pickup operated by 87 Year old Willard Jindrick of rural Hillsboro entered onto Hwy 14 from the Ash Creek Plumbing & Heating driveway to go Westbound. The Jindrick vehicle entered on Hwy 14 at a rapid rate, into the path of the Rynes vehicle, making a collision unavoidable. The Rynes truck came to rest in the intersection, while the Jindrick truck continued off the road into the grass just west of Peebles drive. Willard Jindrick was ejected from the vehicle and suffered severe injuries, he was not wearing a seat belt. Jindrick was transported by Richland County EMS to the Richland Hospital, and later flown by Med-Flight to UW Hospital in Madison where this morning he is listed in critical condition.

The crash remains under investigation.

 

UTV Accident Claims The Life Of A Rural Cazenovia Man

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On 9-16-18 at 7:04pm the Richland County Sheriff’s Department Communications Center received a 911 call of a UTV crash on Beatty Drive in Henrietta Township. The caller stated there was one person lying in the roadway and one person trapped in the UTV. Richland County Sheriff’s Deputies, as well as Yuba Fire & First Responders and Richland EMS responded. When Sheriff’s Deputies arrived, they discovered the passenger in the UTV had gotten out of the unit and was not injured. A passerby was performing CPR on the subject lying in the roadway. Deputies assisted the citizen with life saving efforts as Yuba and Richland County responders arrived on scene. The subject was transported to the Richland Hospital by Richland County EMS and then transferred by MedLink helicopter to UW Hospital in Madison where he was later pronounced dead. The victim, 65 year old Michael S. Sweatt of rural Cazenovia, had been traveling south bound on Beatty Drive with a passenger when the vehicle left the road way on the right and rolled over. The incident is being investigated by the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources.

WHEN: 09-16-18          TIME of Incident: 7:04PM        Location: Beatty Drive

WHO INVOLVED:
Michael S. Sweatt, 65 of Cazenovia, WI

Other Agencies Involved:
Yuba Fire Department
Yuba First Responders
Richland County EMS
Wisconsin DNR

Traffic Crash on Hwy 60 in Orion Township

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On 9-16-18 at 4:50pm, the Richland County Communications Center received a 911 call of a single vehicle accident on State Hwy 60 approximately 2 miles west of County Hwy TB in Orion Township. The caller indicated one person was injured. Richland County Sheriff’s Deputies, along with Muscoda Police and Muscoda Fire and EMS all responded. The operator, Kyle T. Knutson of Reedsburg, was traveling eastbound on Hwy 60 when he travel off the roadway on the right, drove through a front yard, and became airborne after striking a driveway. The vehicle came to rest on its wheels facing west. Knutson was injured and trapped in the vehicle. He was extricated by the Muscoda Fire Department Jaw of Life. Knutson was taken by Muscoda EMS to a landing zone and flown by MedFlight helicopter to a Madison hospital where his condition at this time is unknown. Richland County Deputies were assisted at the scene by Lone Rock Fire, Muscoda Fire and EMS and the Muscoda Police Department The accident remains under investigation.

WHEN: 09-16-2018          TIME of Incident:  4:50PM        Location: State Hwy 60 approximately 2 miles West of County Hwy TB

WHO INVOLVED:
Kyle T. Knutson, 25 of Reedsburg, WI

Other Agencies Involved:
Muscoda Fire & EMS
Muscoda Police Department
UW Med Flight
Lone Rock Fire

Sex Offender Information Bulletin Community Notification

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Area Residents:

The Richland Center Police Department is releasing the following information pursuant to Wisconsin State Statute 301.46(2m) which authorizes law enforcement agencies to inform the public of a sex offender’s release when, in the discretion of the agency, the release of information will enhance public safety, awareness and protection.

The individual who appears on this notification has been convicted of a sex offense that requires registration with the Wisconsin Sex Offender Registration Program (SORP). Further, this individual’s previous history places him in a classification level that reflects the potential to re-offend.

This sex offender has served the prison sentence imposed on him by the courts. THIS PERSON IS NOT WANTED BY POLICE. This notification is not intended to increase fear; rather, it is our belief that an informed public is a safer public.

Sex offenders have always lived in our communities, but it was not until the Sex Offender Registration and Community Notification Law was enacted, that law enforcement was able to share this information with the community.

Citizen abuse of this information to threaten, intimidate or harass registered sex offenders will not be tolerated.

Date of photo: 08-2018

Steven N. Thomas, age 39. In 2010, he was convicted in Richland County Court of 2nd Degree Sexual Assault. The victim was a 16-year-old female. He is described as follows: Male/Black, 6’2”, 200 pounds, black hair, brown eyes.

RESIDENCE:
Upon release from incarceration on September 18, 2018, Steven Thomas will be living at 307 S. Church Street, Apt. #2 in the City of Richland Center.

EMPLOYMENT:
Employment will be approved by the Department of Corrections. No contact with children.

SUPERVISION PLAN:
1. No unsupervised contact with minors.
2. No taverns/bars/liquor stores. Not to consume alcohol or drugs.
3. Comply with standard sex offender rules.
4. Comply with any recommended treatment.
5. Comply with lifetime registration with the Wisconsin Sex Offender Registration Program.
6. Comply with electronic monitoring.

Agency Contacts:
Department of Corrections, Division of Community Corrections- Agent Dustin Popp, 647-4848.
Richland Center Police Department- Chief Lucas Clements, 647-2103.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

To learn more about the Sex Offender Registration Program in the State of Wisconsin, or to obtain information on other registered sex offenders living in the Richland Center area, please visit the sex offender registration website at http://offender.doc.state.wi.us/public/.

To obtain information on anyone under supervision please visit the State of Wisconsin, Department of Correction’s website at http://doc.wi.gov/Home.

* This bulletin was prepared by the Richland County Sex Offender Registration Notification Team.

Responsible Use of Social Media

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Chief Lucas Clements reports that there have been many social media posts within the last week about suspicious persons, attempted abductions, or sex trafficking in and around the Richland Center area. These concerns have been further fueled by the circulation of “shared” social media posts.

Chief Clements and Sheriff Jim Bindl report that the Richland Center Police Department and Richland County Sheriff’s Department have received a few “suspicious activity” calls over the past week. These complaints have consisted of females with children possibly being followed. We have thoroughly investigated the complaints and we take them very seriously. We have not, however, identified any criminality in the complaints we have received. The Richland Center Police Department and the Richland County Sheriff’s Department have had no reports of abductions, or even attempted abductions, in these complaints; nor have there been any indications that the complaints are associated with sex trafficking.

Chief Clements also states, “I have been in contact with law enforcement officials in the neighboring communities of Muscoda and Boscobel, which have been mentioned in social media posts for allegedly experiencing similar “suspicious activity” complaints. Both Chief Bill Schramm of the Muscoda Police Department and Chief Todd Stenner of the Boscobel Police Department have not had any official reports of the type of activity mentioned in social media.”

While social media is a powerful tool to share information, the “viral” sharing of unverified information concerning a few alleged incidents can lead people to believe there have been significantly more incidents than actually occurred and unfairly label individual(s) as suspects. Ultimately, this sharing of unverified information has contributed to people feeling overly fearful.

All law enforcement agencies, to include locally the Richland Center Police Department and Richland County Sherriff’s Department have ALWAYS encouraged the public to be aware of their surroundings for their personal safety and to report suspicious activity to Law Enforcement. If you feel that you are being followed by someone please use the following tips:

  1. Call 911 immediately to report, law enforcement does not continually monitor social media.
  2. If walking, stay in a public area. If driving, drive to a police department or continue to drive until Law Enforcement is able to locate you.
  3. Memorize, write down, or take a picture of the license plate number, vehicle, and/or suspect description or any other identifying information. This will assist Law Enforcement in their subsequent investigation.
  4. Do not confront the individual(s).

Appleton Man Injured in Motorcycle Crash

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On July 27th, 2018 at approximately 5:00 PM, James Stymiest of Appleton, WI was operating a motorcycle traveling westbound on State Hwy 60. Stymiest was negotiating a curve when he crossed the center line of the road and crashed into the driver side of an eastbound vehicle driven by Makenzi Christianson. Stymiest’s motorcycle then continued westbound into the north ditch line where Stymiest and motorcycle came to rest. Stymiest was transported by Muscoda EMS to Gotham where he was transferred to UW Med Flight and transported to Madison. The cars passenger Joshua Bockorny was transported by Lone Rock EMS to Richland hospital for non life threatening injuries. One lane of traffic on State Hwy 60 was closed for approximately an hour for emergency personnel. Stymiest is listed in stable condition at this time. The accident remains under investigation by the Richland County Sheriff’s Department.

WHO INVOLVED:
James Stymiest, 59, of Appleton, WI
Makenzi Christianson, 16, of Muscoda, WI
Joshua Bockorny, 27 of Muscoda, WI

OTHER AGENCIES INVOLVED:
Muscoda Fire & EMS
Lone Rock Fire & EMS
UW Med Flight

Motorcycle Fatality in Richland County

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On July 28th, 2018, at approximately 1:25pm the Richland County Communications Center was notified of a motorcycle verses pickup truck crash on State Hwy 56 at County Hwy A. A motorcycle operated by Kevin Graham, 47 of Mazomanie, WI was traveling Eastbound on State Hwy 56. As Graham approached the intersection with County Hwy A, a westbound pickup truck being operated by Karen Langer, 77 of Hillsboro, initiated a left hand turn to go South on County Hwy A. While Langer was negotiating the turn, Graham crested the hill and collided into the front of Langer’s truck. Graham’s motorcycle continued eastbound on State Hwy 56 and into the south ditch line just east of the intersection of County Hwy A where it came to rest. Karen Langer had no reported injuries. Kevin Graham was pronounced dead at the scene by a Deputy Richland County Coroner. One lane of traffic on State Hwy 56 was closed for approximately three and a half hours. The incident remains under investigation. This is the first traffic crash fatality of the year in Richland County.

OTHER AGENCIES INVOLVED:
 Richland Center Fire Department
Viola EMS
Richland County Coroner’s Office
Wisconsin State Patrol