On 06/19/2021 at approximately 5:52PM the Richland County Sheriff’s Department received a 911 call that a male party was possibly drowning in the Wisconsin River near the Gotham Boat Landing. The male party was reported to be seen by one witness falling into the water and by other witnesses prior to being pulled under water by the current. The male party was later located down river by the assisting Fire Departments and transported back to shore. He was then transported by Lone Rock EMS to the Richland Hospital with CPR in progress. The male party was later pronounced deceased at the Richland Hospital. Through investigation of the scene, it is believed that the male party had fallen into the river while fishing along the river bank near the boat landing.

Other Agencies Involved: Lone Rock Fire Department, Lone Rock EMS, Blue River Fire Department, & Spring Green Fire Department

WHERE Incident Happened: E. Gage St. Richland Center

What happened: On 04/23/2021 at approximately 7:30 PM a deputy with the Richland County Sheriff’s Department conducted a traffic stop near Foremost Farms on E. Gage Street in the City of Richland Center. The vehicle was stopped for registration violations and suspicious activity. Contact was made with the driver, Benjamin J. Peterson of Mazomanie. During the subsequent investigation of the stop and search of the vehicle, law enforcement located approximately 30 grams of methamphetamine and .6 grams of heroin. Peterson was arrested and transported to the Richland County Jail for drug offenses. The Richland Center Police Department assisted on scene and the investigation in still ongoing.

The Richland County Sheriff’s Department asks the public to report any suspicious activity by calling the non-emergency line at 608-647-2106 or Richland County Crime Stoppers at 608-647-2583. All callers can remain anonymous.

WHO Involved: Mason M. Fenton, 16 of Richland Center, WI

What happened: On 04/25/2021 at approximately 10:57PM the Richland County Sheriff’s Department received a call of a juvenile male who had not returned home from riding his ATV. An extensive search began attempting to locate Mason Fenton near his residence in Dayton Township. Several area Fire and EMS departments along with several K-9 and Drone teams responded to assist with the search. At approximately 3:39AM on 4/26/2021 a Richland County Sheriff’s sergeant located the ATV crashed on Crow Hill School Road. Mason Fenton was found deceased a short distance from the scene of the crash.

The crash is being investigated by the Wisconsin DNR.

WHERE Incident Happened: State Highway 14 at State Highway 58

What happened: On April 6th, 2021 at approximately 12:50 A.M., The Richland County Sheriff’s received a 9-1-1 call reporting a two vehicle crash at State Highway 14 and State Highway 58. At the time, Richland County was also experiencing a county wide cellular service interruption affecting both the 9-1-1 system and regular cellular services which caused further complications. Deputies responded to find one vehicle, a red 2009 Toyota Camry, in the ditch alongside the westbound lanes of Highway 14. The second vehicle, a white 2017 Kenworth Semi pulling a loaded trailer, was stopped farther west on Highway 14. The semi was also hauling recreational size propane tanks, which during the crash had been scattered across all four lanes of Highway 14 forcing the highway to be shut down.

The driver of the Toyota Camry, Richard W. Anderson, 92 years’ old, from Vadnais Heights Minnesota was entrapped in his vehicle and needed to be extricated. Anderson, who sustained life threating injuries, was extricated from his vehicle by the Richland Center Fire Department, treated on scene by Richland County EMS until UW Madison Medflight arrived. Medflight landed at the intersection and Anderson was flown to UW Madison Hospital where his condition is listed as critical. The driver of the semi was not injured in the crash and assisted on scene until emergency units arrived.

Witnesses state Anderson’s vehicle was southbound on State Highway 58, approaching the stop sign at the intersection with State Highway 14 and failed to stop at the stop sign. Anderson’s vehicle continued through the intersection striking the westbound semi. Anderson’s vehicle struck the semi-trailer just in front of the rear axle, where the propane tanks were stored. Anderson’s vehicle was then forced to the shoulder and came to rest in the ditch. Anderson’s vehicle sustained major damage in the crash and was removed by Wegner Towing. The semi-truck was not damaged, however, the trailer was also removed by Wegner Towing due to damages sustained in the crash.

State Highway 14 was shut down for approximately two hours during the incident from County Road O by Wal-Mart and County Road B at Sextonville.

ARREST or CHARGES: At this time, this incident remains under investigation by the Richland County Sheriff’s Department.

At approximately 6:39pm deputies responded to a one vehicle rollover on State Hwy 80 near Candlewood Ln. Prior to the deputies’ arrival a witness observed the driver flee up a hill into a wooded area. Deputies tracked the subject to the north east towards Wegner Rd. A property owner on Whippoorwill Rd contacted the Sheriff’s Department stating that there were fresh footprints in the snow leading to a vacant trailer house on his property. Deputies responded to that address and made entry into the trailer, a male party matching the description of the driver who had fled the crash scene was located inside. Several items of drug paraphernalia an illegal narcotics were located in the driver’s possession. The male party refused to identify himself to law enforcement but was later identified using his distinctive tattoos.

Who Involved: Craig D. Bellis, 40 of Spring Green, WI

Other Agencies Involved: Richland Center Police Department

Arrest or Charges: 946.41 Obstructing, 943.14 Criminal Trespass to Dwelling, 961.573(1) Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, 961.41(3G)(E) Possession of THC

On 03-08-21 at approximately 7:00pm, a vehicle was traveling southbound on State Hwy 80 when it lost control and slide sideways into the west ditch. The vehicle is believed to have rolled multiple times and came to rest on the passenger side door. Both occupants of the vehicle were trapped inside and needed to be extricated by the Richland Center Fire Department. Thomas R. Poupart, 28 of Muscoda was transported via Richland County EMS to the Richland Hospital for his injuries. Poupart was later tansported via Med-Flight to UW Hospital in Madison. Zachary W. Brunton, 29 of Muscoda was pronounced dead at the scene. The Wisconsin State Patrol assisted with a crash reconstruction of the accident scene. Speed and alcohol were believed to be contributing factors in the crash and the investigation is still ongoing.

Who Involved:
Zachary W. Brunton, 29 of Muscoda, WI
Thomas R. Poupart, 28 of Muscoda, WI

Other Agencies Involved:
Richland County EMS, Richland Center Fire Department, Wisconsin State Patrol, UW Med Flight, Richland County District Attorney’s Office, Richland County Coroner