On 03/05/2022, at approximately 12:09 P.M. the Richland County Sheriff’s Department received a call of a vehicle located in a creek below a bridge on State Highway 171. Deputies responded to the scene and confirmed the vehicle belonged to Francis Johnston. The vehicle, which was not visible from the road way, was unoccupied when it was located. A short time later, Francis Jonston was located in the creek deceased.

OTHER AGENCIES INVOLVED:Viola Police Department, Richland Center Fire Department, Richland County Coroner’s Office and Wegner Auto Service

On 12/04/2021 at approximately 3:25 P.M., Law Enforcement, EMS and Fire were notified of a 2 vehicle crash at the intersection of State Highway 80 and State Highway 56 with multiple injuries. According to statements made by the operators of the vehicles involved, A car that was traveling eastbound on State Highway 56 failed to stop at the stop sign and was struck by a struck traveling southbound on State Highway 80. The car that was struck had 5 total occupants, all of which were transported by the assisting EMS agencies to the Richland Hospital for injuries sustained in the crash. One juvenile occupant of the car was pronounced deceased at the Richland Hospital as a result from the crash. The lone occupant of the truck did not require medical attention. The full details of the crash are still under investigation. The Richland County Sheriff’s Department is being assisted in the investigation by the Wisconsin State Patrol.

OTHER AGENCIES INVOLVED: Richland County EMS, Richland Center Fire Department, Cazenovia EMS, Reedsburg EMS, and the Wisconsin State Patrol

WHO Involved: Erica Hostetler, 30, of Avoca
Saige Hostetler, >1, of Avoca
Stacy Ewing, 49, or Richland Center

WHERE Incident Happened: US Hwy 14 at the intersection of Pleasant Valley Dr and Koch Dr.

What happened: Sheriff Clay Porter reports on 11/09/2021 at approximately 1:45 P.M. unit #1 being driven by Hostetler was leaving Pleasant Valley Dr crossing USH 14 to go into Koch Dr. Unit #2 driven by Ewing was traveling East bound on USH 14 when unit #1 crashed into the driver side door. The impact from the crash did send unit #2 off the road into the south ditch of USH 14 just east of Koch Dr. Ewing was transported by Richland EMS to the Richland Hospital with non life threatening injuries and Hostetler and passenger had minor injuries but did not want medical treatment.

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

WHO Involved: Aleece Roh, 31, of Fitchburg, WI

WHERE Incident Happened: US Highway 14/County Highway KK

What happened: On 08/05/2021 at approximately 8:30pm a deputy initiated a traffic stop of a vehicle for speeding. The driver Aleece Roh had her three children in the car, ages 9, 6, and 4. Deputy could smell a strong odor of Marijuana coming from the vehicle and felt Aleece was impaired. Aleece showed signs of impairment during field sobriety testing and was arrested for OWI 2nd with passenger under the age of 16. During a search of the vehicle Deputy located 2 ounces of Marijuana, 1/4 ounce of Cocaine, and drug paraphernalia.

Arrest or Charges: Possession with intent to deliver Cocaine, Possession with intent to deliver THC, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, OWI 2nd with passenger under 16, Child Neglect.

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

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