WHO Involved: Dana Taylor, 33, of Richland Center, WI
Mikalah Baker, 18, of Richland Center, WI

WHERE Incident Happened: County Highway N just East of Hustlers Ridge DR

What happened: On 06/15/2024 at 8:29 pm, Richland County Dispatch received a report of a UTV crash on County Highway N just East of Hustlers Ridge Dr. Responding units arrived on scene and found the driver, Dana Taylor, 33 of Richland Center was partially pinned underneath the UTV. The driver was extricated from the UTV and transported directly to UW Hospital for her injuries. the passenger, Mikalah Baker, 18, of Richland Center, was transported to The Richland Hospital with minor injuries. Initial investigation of the crash showed that the UTV was heading westbound on County Highway N negotiating a curve, and hit the edge of the road causing the UTV to skid across the road and overturn onto the driver’s side, partially pinning the driver underneath. Wegners Towing removed the UTV from the scene.

Other Agencies Involved: Richland Center Police Department, Wisconsin DNR, Wisconsin State Patrol, Richland County Ambulance, Richland Center Fire Department

ARREST or CHARGES: Accident is still under investigation.

WHO Involved: Charlie B Hillman, 48, of Richland Center, WI

WHERE Incident Happened: US Highway 14 Westbound from Moore Dr. to Starlight Ln

What happened: Sheriff Clay Porter reports that on May 26th, 2024 at approximately 11:47 P.M., Deputies were dispatched to a call for service in the Village of Lone Rock for a report of a hit and run incident. While en route, dispatch informed deputies of the suspect vehicle description and license plate number. Deputies observed the suspect vehicle traveling westbound on US Highway 14 near Moore Drive. The vehicle swerved and drove head on toward a law enforcement vehicle. Emergency lights and siren were activated, and a pursuit ensued continuing westbound on US Highway 14 toward the city of Richland Center. During the pursuit, the suspect vehicle drove recklessly, swerving toward other vehicles on the highway while traveling at speeds up to 100 mph. The pursuit continued into the city, where the Richland Center Police Department deployed stop sticks (a tire deflation device) and it successfully disabled the vehicle. The pursuit ended safely on US Highway 14 near Taco Bell, and the suspect was taken into custody without incident.

Sheriff Porter attributes the safe outcome of this incident to our strong partnership with the Richland Center Police Department. Ongoing joint training on pursuit techniques has proved invaluable in this situation, as well as several others. Teamwork saves lives.

Other Agencies Involved: Richland Center Police Department

ARREST or CHARGES: Resisting or Obstructing an Officer, Vehicle Operator Flee/Elude Officer, Criminal Damage to Property

WHO Involved: Benjamin Peterson, 29, of Mazomanie, WI

WHERE Incident Happened: State Highway 60 at County Highway TB

What happened: On 5-17-24 at approximately 7:18pm, a traffic stop was attempted by the Richland County Sheriff’s Office on a motorcycle being operated on State Hwy 60. The driver, later identified as 29 year old Benjamin Peterson, began fleeing the deputy while heading eastbound at a high rate of speed. Deputies decided to terminate the pursuit in the interest of public safety, near Schmidt Ln. after Peterson passed a car in a no passing zone towards on coming traffic. After deputies deactivated their emergency lights and siren, they checked the area and were unable to locate Peterson or his motorcycle. A short time later, Richland County Dispatch received a 911 call about a possible motorcycle crash on STH 60, near CTH TB. Deputies arrived on scene and provided medical care with the assist of bystanders until EMS arrived. Lone Rock EMS began medical care and transported Peterson to Gotham where UW Medflight was waiting. Peterson was identified as the suspect involved in the pursuit and was showing signs of impairment during his contact with law enforcement. The motorcycle was later located several hundred feet in the woods , not visible from the road. The Richland County Sheriff’s Office was assisted on the scene by Lone Rock Fire, Muscoda Fire, UW Medflight, and the Richland Center Police Department. The UW Police Department assisted deputies with the OWI investigation.

Other Agencies Involved: Richland Center Police Department, Lone Rock Fire Department, Lone Rock EMS, Muscoda Fire Department, UW Medflight, UW Police Department

ARREST or CHARGES: Flee/Elude Law Enforcement, Felony Bail Jumping, OWI, and 2nd Degree Recklessly Endangering Safety

WHO Involved: Kadin Dilley, 23, of Blue River, WI
Emily Burghagen, 19, of Richland Center, WI
Malaki Herbeck, 19, of Muscoda, WI

WHERE Incident Happened: County Highway Q at Jackson Drive

What happened: Sheriff Clay Porter reports on 05/10/2024 at approximately 5:12am, The Richland County Sheriff’s Office received a report of a 2 vehicle crash at the intersection of County Highway Q and Jackson Drive, near the Town of Boaz. The Richland County Sheriff’s Office, as well as Richland EMS and the Richland Center Fire Department responded to the scene. Upon arrival, medical care was provided for the injured parties and an investigation into the crash was conducted. Based on observations of the scene and statements from those involved, it is believed that the driver- Emily Burghagen and passenger- Malaki Herbeck were traveling southbound on Jackson Drive when they failed to stop at the stop sign at the intersection of County Highway Q. At the same time, Kadin Dilly was traveling westbound on County Highway Q. Burghagen’s failure to stop at the stop sign resulted in her vehicle pulling out to travel Eastbound on County Highway Q in front of Dilly’s vehicle. This caused the front of Dilley’s vehicle to strike Burghagen’s vehicle in the driver’s door area. The crash resulted in what is believed to be non-life threatening injuries to Burghagen and Herbeck. Both parties were transported by Richland EMS to the Richland Hospital. Burghagen admitted to consuming alcohol the night prior/early morning hours of 5/10/24. The alcohol consumption is believed to have been a factor in the crash. The Richland County Sheriff’s Office was assisted on scene by Richland EMS, Richland Center Fire Department and Wegner’s Auto. This incident is still under investigation.

Other Agencies Involved:  Richland EMS, Richland Center Fire Department, Wegner Auto

ARREST or CHARGES: 346.63(2) – OWI Causing Injury

Richland County Sheriff Clay Porter wants to update the community on the increase in cryptocurrency type scams. Cryptocurrency is defined as digital and/or virtual currency with the records being maintained by a decentralized system such as but not limited to Bitcoin and Ethereum. These types of scams have a wide variety of schemes, but can include blackmail, extortion, business opportunities, fake job listings, giveaways, impersonation, investments, phishing, and romance (this includes dating applications). Things to look for in spotting a scam are if it seems too good to be true, “pay to play” jobs, promises of guaranteed investment returns, and unexpected email-phone- texts.

How to report Cryptocurrency Scams:

• Commodity Futures Trading Commission (CFTC) at https://www.cftc.gov/complaint
• Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) at https://www.fbi.gov/contact-us
• Federal Trade Commission (FTC) at https://reportfraud.ftc.gov
• Internet Crime Complaint Center (IC3) at https://www.ic3.gov/
• U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) at https://www.sec.gov/tcr

This is not to scare the public from in participating in investing into cryptocurrency, but simply to educate and protect those that are less familiar with cryptocurrency from the scams that are occurring everywhere.

WHO Involved: Devin J. Rego, 25, of Cazenovia, WI
Amber L. Markunas, 35, of Wisconsin Dells, WI

WHERE Incident Happened: County Hwy V, East of Germantown

What happened: On 2/14/24, at approximately 8:40pm, Richland County Dispatch received a 911 call regarding a female party who had fallen out of a moving UTV on County Hwy V near Cazenovia. Deputies and emergency medical personnel arrived and located the female unresponsive, but breathing and determined that she was a passenger in the UTV. Contact was made with the driver, 25 year old Devin Rego of Cazenovia who was still on scene. While speaking with Rego, deputies observed signs of alcohol impairment and he was subsequently arrested for Operating an ATV/UTV While Intoxicated Causing Injury. The injured female was identified as 35 year old Amber Markunas of Wisconsin Dells and was transported via Med Flight to UW Hospital for life threatening injuries. The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources was contacted and will be assisting in the ongoing investigation.

Other Agencies Involved:  Cazenovia EMS, Cazenovia Fire, UW Med Flight, Wisconsin DNR, Reedsburg Paramedics