WHERE Incident Happened: Marshall Township

What happened: On October 3rd, 2023 at approximately 12:35pm, The Richland County Dispatch Center received a call from a family member of missing person- John Anderson, stating that he had located the vehicle crashed in a wooded area off of County Hwy A in rural Richland County. Sheriff’s Deputies responded and confirmed that it was Anderson’s vehicle and located Anderson deceased inside. Richland Fire and The Richland County Coroner were contacted and arrived on scene a short while later. A thorough investigation on scene lead deputies to believe that Anderson had a serious medical incident while operating the vehicle, causing the crash. Wisconsin State Patrol was later contacted to extract the vehicle information and an autopsy was completed which confirmed the cause of death being a medical condition.

The Richland County Sheriff’s Office would like to extend a big thank you to the all of the agencies that assisted with the investigation as well as the family and friends whom assisted in the search. Our sympathy is with his family and friends during this difficult time.

Other Agencies Involved: Richland County Sheriff’s Office, Richland Center Fire Department, Richland County Coroner, Pleasant Prairie Police Department, and the Wisconsin State Patrol

WHO Involved: Kenneth Mickelson, 17, of Viola WI

WHERE Incident Happened: State Highway 56 and County Highway MM

What happened: Sheriff Porter reports that on 10/01/2023 at approximately 5:15pm, Deputies responded to the report of a one vehicle rollover on State Hwy 56 near the intersection of County Hwy MM with unknown injuries. Once on scene, deputies located the driver who showed signs of being under the influence of alcohol. After Standardized Field Sobriety Testing and a Preliminary Breath Test result of .29, Deputies placed the driver Kenneth Mickelson under arrest for Operating While Under the Influence (1st Offense). Sheriff Porter would like to thank Viola Fire and EMS for their assistance.

Other Agencies Involved: Viola EMS and Viola Fire Department

WHO Involved: Dawn Jahn, 40, of Portage WI

WHERE Incident Happened: Spangler Ridge Rd, approximately 1.5 miles East of CTH A, Bloom Township, Section 21

What happened: Jahn was operating a 2007 Honda motorcycle traveling West on Spangler Ridge Rd when she lost control and was thrown from the motorcycle. Jahn was transported from the scene by GundersonAIR helicopter. The Richland County Sheriff’s Department was assisted on scene by LaFarge EMS and Yuba First Responders and the Yuba Fire Department.

Other Agencies Involved: LaFarge EMS, Yuba First Responders, Yuba Fire, and Gunderson AIR La Crosse

WHERE Incident Happened: Smith and Cruson Slough Day Use Area, US Hwy 14, Lone Rock

What happened: On 08/13/2023 at approximately 8:23pm, the Richland County Sheriff’s Office located a vehicle that was included in an attempt to locate (ATL) for a “check welfare” request out of the City of Madison. Two Madison women were reported missing by a family member after they failed to return home after a hike at Devil’s Lake State Park. A phone ping was conducted and allowed a deputy with Richland County to locate the vehicle in the Smith and Cruson Slough DNR land, just off of US Hwy 14, near Lone Rock. The deputy located two females dead inside the vehicle due to an apparent murder-suicide. A 25-year-old woman was found with a gunshot wound and a 60-year-old woman was found with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Nothing else suspicious was located at the scene and there is no perceived threat to the public.

The investigation remains ongoing and the names of the deceased females are being withheld at this time pending proper notification of family members and more information will be released at a later date.

Other Agencies Involved: Richland County Coroner

WHO Involved: Sean P Burns, 44, of Richland Center, WI

WHERE Incident Happened: County Highway Q at Chicken Ridge Road

What happened: Sheriff Clay Porter reports on 06/23/2023 at approximately 10:20 pm the Richland County Sheriff’s Department, Richland Center Fire Department, and Richland EMS responded to the area of County HWY Q and Chicken Ridge Rd for the report of a UTV Crash with injuries. Investigation of the incident showed 44 year old Sean Burns to be the lone occupant/operator of the UTV in question. While traveling Eastbound on County HWY Q near Chicken Ridge Rd, control of the UTV was lost while attempting to negotiate a corner. This caused the UTV to overturn in the roadway, resulting in injury to the operator. Burns was transported by Richland EMS to the Richland Hospital for treatment of his injuries. Speed and alcohol are believed to be contributing factors in the crash.

ARREST or CHARGES: Cited for Intoxicated Operation of ATV/UTV State Statute 23.33(4c)(a)1

Other Agencies Involved: Richland EMS and Richland Center Fire Department

WHO Involved: Darnell Edwards, 47, of Boscobel, WI
Lyndzi Edwards, 38, of Boscobel, WI
Corey Clark, Juvenile, of Boscobel, WI
Dezzerrae Edwards, Juvenile, of Boscobel, WI
Kelli Neitzel, 32, of Muscoda, WI

WHERE Incident Happened: State Hwy 60 just west of State Hwy 193

What happened: Sheriff Clay Porter reports on June 6, 2023 at approximately 11:52 A.M., Richland County Dispatch received a 911 call reference a two car accident with multiple injuries. Reporting party advised the crash was located at the intersection of State Hwy 60 and State Hwy 193, The vehicle traveling westbound, operated by Darnell Edwards with three passengers. Four individuals were transported to Gunderson Hospital in Boscobel with minor injuries. drugs or alcohol are not believed to be contributing factors of the accident.

ARREST or CHARGES: None

Other Agencies Involved: Richland EMS, Muscoda Fire Dept., Blue River EMS, Boscobel EMS, Wisconsin State Patrol

WHERE Incident Happened: 30858 County Hwy I, Cazenovia

What happened: On May 25th, 2023 at approximately 9:30 AM, Cazenvoia EMS was requested to Bunker Hill Campground for an unresponsive male. It was determined after EMS arrived on scene that the male party was deceased. During the investigation it was determined that there was suspicious circumstances involving the death of the male party. Assistance was requested from The Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation, The Wisconsin State Crime Lab, Wisconsin State Patrol and the Richland Center Police Department. At this time the investigation is still ongoing. There is no danger to the public. More information will be released as soon as possible.

Other Agencies Involved: WI Department of Justice Crime Unit, The Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation, WI State Patrol, Cazenovia EMS, Richland Center Police Department

WHO Involved: David S Rott, 72, of Richland Center

WHERE Incident Happened: USH 14 just West of CTH KK in Akan Township

What happened:Rott was operating a 2010 Mack Semi pulling a trailer traveling east on USH 14 near CTH KK. The semi traveled into the southbound ditch and eventually overturned, causing severe damage to semi and injuries to Rott. Rott was transported by Richland EMS to the Richland Hospital due to his injuries. Due to witness statements, the Wisconsin State Patrol was contacted and the crash is still under investigation.

Other Agencies Involved: Richland Center Fire Department, Wisconsin State Patrol, Richland County Highway Department, Wegner Towing, and Richland County EMS

WHO Involved: Joseph Abitz, 54, of Dubuque, IA

WHERE Incident Happened: County Hwy OO

What happened:Sheriff Clay Porter reports that on 03/29/2023, at approximately 5:02 P.M. Iowa County 911 received the initial call of an emergency incident and transferred the call to Richland County 911 regarding a male party that was involved in an logging accident. The witness stated that they were working on a log skidder and the hydraulic line broke, hitting the victim in the face, causing him to be unresponsive. The victim was wedged along the tire and the engine compartment of the log skidder when emergency personnel arrived on scene. Muscoda EMS, Fire and Police responded to the scene. Avoca Police was also notified of the incident and all responding units were directed to field where the accident took place. Emergency personnel were able to get the victim off the log skidder, where medical personnel began their medical treatment. The victim was transported to the Richland Hospital where he was pronounced deceased. During the investigation it was found that the victim was removing a pressure hydraulic accumulators and unknown to the victim one accumulator was still under pressure. While attempting to remove it the pressure caused the accumulator to come lose and hit the victim in the head.

Other Agencies Involved: Muscoda EMS, Muscoda Fire, Muscoda Police, and Avoca Police.