Richland County Sheriff's Department

Search Warrant Leads to Drugs, Paraphernalia, and Money Seized

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On 05-21-2019, the Richland-Iowa-Grant Drug Task Force along with the Richland County Special Response Team executed a drug related search warrant at the address of 28875 McNurlin Street in the Village of Gotham. A search of the residence was conducted and officers located methamphetamine, marijuana, and U.S. currency. Also located were numerous items of drug paraphernalia to include: used syringes, glass smoking devices, a digital scale, a drug ledger/log, and plastic baggies with residue. The suspect, William C. Giddings was arrested and transported to the Richland County Jail on numerous drug related offenses. The public is encouraged to report any suspicious/drug activity to Richland County Crime Stoppers at 647-Clue(2583).

Other agencies involved were the Richland Center Police Department and Lone Rock EMS.

As a result of the investigation Giddings was placed under arrest for the following tentative charges:

William Giddings

  • Possession with intent to deliver methamphetamine
  • Possession with intent to deliver THC
  • Maintaining a drug trafficking place
  • Possession of drug paraphernalia
  • Resisting or obstructing an officer

Cooperation Between Citizens And Authorities To Assist Man in Need

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Around 8:30am the Richland County Sheriff’s Department received a call from a concerned resident of Lone Rock regarding an adult male who had approached her asking for help with his cell phone. The subject then walked in to a wooded area of the village. He was described as about 6ft tall, dark pants and was not wearing shoes. The resident was concerned about the individual. Deputies responded and recovered the cell phone of the man and began a search of the area but could not locate the individual. Authorities continued to check the area and surrounding areas throughout the course of the day. Around 7:45pm last evening, a citizen driving on US Hwy 14 near Hwy 60 spotted a male walking on Hwy 14 and was concerned for his safety. The citizen dialed 911. The description given matched that of the male deputies has been looking for. Deputies located the subject in the Village of Gotham a short time later. The male was found in good health and was cooperative with authorities. There was no danger to public. This was an excellent example of cooperation between citizens and authorities to assist a man in need.

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Police Department Press Release

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Chief Lucas Clements reports that at approximately 6:40 a.m. on May 18th an Officer from the Richland Center Police Department recognized Christopher D. Grabowski, 34, of Richland Center traveling as a passenger in a vehicle westbound on W. 6th St.

The Officer ran a warrant check on Grabowski and confirmed that there were warrants out for his arrest. Upon contact with Grabowski at Mobil Mart, Grabowski was taken into custody after a short foot chase. Search incident to arrest, Officers located drug paraphernalia on Grabowski’s person used to ingest methamphetamine. Grabowski also admitted to having further drug paraphernalia in the vehicle. A search of the vehicle yielded further drug paraphernalia as well as methamphetamine and marijuana.

Contact was made with the driver of the vehicle, Robert J.  Engebretson, 52, of Richland Center. Upon contact with Engebretson, the Officer noted signs of impairment. Standardized Field Sobriety tests were conducted with Engebretson, who displayed signs of impairment.

As a result of the investigation both Engebretson and Grabowski were placed under arrest for the following tentative charges:

Robert J. Engebretson

  • Possession of Methamphetamine (2nd or subsequent offense)
  • Possession of THC (2nd or subsequent offense)
  • Operating While Under the Influence
Christopher D. Grabowski
  • Possession of Methamphetamine (2nd or subsequent offense)
  • Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
  • Possession of THC (2nd or subsequent offense)
  • Resisting or Obstructing an Officer
  • Bail Jumping (4 counts)

The Richland Center Police Department was assisted on scene by Deputies from the Richland County Sheriff’s Department. The investigation has been forwarded to the Richland County District Attorney’s Office for formal charges to be filed.

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Click It or Ticket 2019

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Date: May 9, 2019
For more information contact: Sheriff James J Bindl 608-647-2106

Richland County Sheriff’s Department to mobilize for Click It or Ticket safety belt enforcement from May 20th to June 2nd.

The Richland County Sheriff’s Department will join hundreds of law enforcement agencies throughout Wisconsin for the annual Click It or Ticket safety belt enforcement campaign from May 20 to June 2.

“As we enter another major travel season, we’re reminding motorists that wearing a safety belt is the single most effective way to protect themselves and prevent needless tragedies along our roadways,” said Sheriff Bindl.

Currently, Wisconsin’s seat belt use rate stands at 89 percent, behind our neighboring states of Minnesota and Michigan that are both over 90 percent. Last year, about half of the car and truck occupants killed in Wisconsin traffic crashes were not buckled up.

“Our goal is voluntary compliance with traffic laws, not to write citations,”Sheriff Bindl said. “But given a choice, we’d much rather write a ticket than have to knock on someone’s door and inform them that a loved one has been killed or seriously injured in a crash. So we’re reminding all motorists to buckle up, every seat, every trip ”

This year marks the 10-year anniversary of Wisconsin’s primary seat belt law that allows law enforcement to stop and cite motorists for failing to wear a safety belt. In addition, drivers can be cited for every unbuckled passenger in their vehicle. Last year in Wisconsin, there were 50,875 traffic convictions for failure to fasten seat belts.

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Download printable news release – Click it or ticket 2019

3 Arrested After High Speed Chase

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Saturday evening at about 7:35pm a Sergeant from the Richland County Sheriff’s Department was working traffic enforcement on US 14 West and identified a silver Dodge pick up traveling in excess of the posted speed limit. The Sergeant activated his warning lights and the truck accelerated. The Sergeant activated his siren and chased the truck west on Highway 14, then north on Bosstown Lane. The truck drove through a private yard, across a septic mound and into the woods where all three occupants fled on foot. Several Richland County Deputies responded, as well as Richland County DNR Warden Kirk Konichek.

Richland County Deputies deployed the department drone while calling for a K-9 from Grant County Sheriff’s Department. Deputies also created a perimeter around the area. A Deputy noticed a vehicle moving in the area and stopped it. It was learned the female operator was there to aid the fleeing parties. Deputies soon located the 3 suspects and took them into custody. Charges on the 3 males have been referred to the Richland County District Attorney’s Office. Charges for the female party are pending.

Sheriff Bindl gave high praise to the deputies involved for the safety and professionalism that they exhibited in the incident.

WHO INVOLVED:
Devin M. Girard, 27, of Muscoda, WI
Kevin D. Campbell, 22, of Blue River, WI
Tylor J. Myers, 23, of Lone Rock, WI

WHEN: 05-04-2019      TIME of Incident: 7:34 PM
Location: US Hwy 14 West and Bosstown Dr, Sylvan Township

Other Agencies Involved: Wisconsin DNR & Grant County Sheriff Department K-9 Unit

Arrests or Charges:

Devin M. Girard – Knowing fleeing an Officer (Felony)
Kevin D. Campbell – Resisting / Obstructing an Officer & Bail jumping
Tylor J. Myers – Resisting / Obstructing an Officer & Bail jumping

Two Vehicle Crash Involving School Bus

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On 04/29/19 Richland County Dispatch received the report of a 2 vehicle crash on State Hwy 80 South of the City of Richland Center between a SUV and a School bus. 

Parker was operating a 2014 SUV Southbound on STH 80 which was slowed/stopped in traffic due to a vehicle in front of her attempting to turn left into Wegner Auto Service. Downs was operating a 2017 School Bus for Kobussen also traveling South and failed to stop for the vehicles stopped in front of him, causing a crash. Parker was transported by private vehicle to seek medical attention. There were no injuries reported to the students on the bus. The crash is still under investigation.

WHO INVOLVED:
Miranda Parker, 40 of Richland Center
Steven Downs, 62 of Richland Center

WHEN: 04-29-19          TIME of Incident: 7:22AM        Location: State Hwy 80 South of Richland Center

Other Agencies Involved:
Richland Center Police Department

Arrests or Charges:
Downs was cited for Failure to have control of a vehicle.

Make EVERY Day A Drug-Take Back Day

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ALWAYS AVAILABLE… EASY TO USE… SAFE… EVERY DAY.

MedReturn is committed to providing a safe, simple, secure and environmentally friendly way to help law enforcement agencies and communities collect unwanted or expired household medication, including prescriptions, over-the-counter drugs and unused pharmaceuticals in locations throughout the U.S.A.

The Richland County Sheriff’s Department has MedReturn boxes located on the 2nd floor of the Courthouse in the Sheriff’s Department lobby.

We accept: Prescription patches, medications and ointments; OTC meds, vitamins & supplements, samples, pet meds, liquid meds in leakproof containers, homeopathic remedies, suppositories.

We do not accept: Needles or sharps, syringes with needles, thermometers, IV bags, bloody or infectious waste, personal care products, empty containers, hydrogen peroxide, aerosol cans, inhalers, medication from businesses.

Alert Off-Duty Deputy Leads to Drug Arrests

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Chief Lucas Clements of the Richland Center Police Department reports that two men were arrested over the weekend on various drug related charges.

Kiefer J. Beran, 27, was arrested and tentatively charged with Possession of Methamphetamine with Intent to Deliver, Felony Possession of Marijuana, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Resisting/Obstructing an Officer.

Logan J. Lenz, 27 of Arena, was arrested and tentatively charged with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

Chief Clements stated that the investigation started when Kiefer Beran was seen in the Richland Center Walmart by an off-duty Deputy of the Richland County Sheriff’s Department, who was familiar with Beran through numerous police contacts.  The Deputy was also aware that Beran had an active arrest warrant through the Department of Corrections (DOC).

The Deputy then contacted on-duty Officers with the Richland Center Police Department and informed them of Beran’s location.  On duty Officers from the Richland Center Police Department and Richland County Sheriff’s Department were able to make contact with Beran after conducting a traffic stop of the vehicle that he was a passenger in.

Beran was then taken into custody on the DOC warrant. The subsequent investigation found Beran to be in possession of numerous items associated with the injection of controlled substances.  Also, found in Beran’s jacket were a loaded syringe and four (4) separate baggies containing methamphetamine with a combined weight of 15.1 grams.  In addition, Beran was also found to be in possession of a small amount of marijuana.  The driver of the vehicle, Logan Lenz, was found to be in possession of drug paraphernalia.

All charges have been forwarded to the Richland County District Attorney’s Office for prosecution.

Chief Clements states that this investigation was the result of the diligence of the off-duty Deputy. Chief Clements also commented on the sound law enforcement tactics displayed by Officers and Deputies on patrol who responded, which allowed them to apprehend Beran on the DOC warrant and then conduct a thorough investigation that resulted in numerous charges and a substantial amount of methamphetamine being taken off the street.

Any citizen who has information concerning any illegal activity is encouraged to call the Richland Center Police Department at 608-647-2103 or the Richland County Sheriff’s Department at 608-647-2016.  Callers who wish to remain anonymous can call Richland Area Crime Stoppers at 647-CLUE (2583) and may be eligible for a cash reward.

 

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Don’t Buy Into Publishers Clearinghouse Phone Scam

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The Richland County Sheriff’s Department has recently taken a fraud complaint in which the victim received a phone call informing them that they had won the “Publisher’s Clearing House” prize.  The prize included $2.5 million dollars, a 2019 Mercedes Benz, and a duffle bag with $400,000 in cash.  The male party that called stated that the victim needed to send $753 to claim the prize and register the new vehicle.

The victim, recognizing this as a scam, contacted the Sheriff’s Department to report it prior to sending any money.  Law enforcement contacted the Publisher’s Clearing House Scam Hotline and it was determined that this was an attempted fraud.

Sheriff Bindl advises the public to contact the Sheriff’s Department if they feel they are being scammed, and to not send any money to claim any “prize”.  Publisher’s Clearing House also encourages the public to report any fraudulent behavior using their name at 1-800-392-4190

High Visibility Seatbelt Enforcement

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Date: February 11, 2019
For more information contact: Sheriff James J. Bindl  608-647-2106

The Richland County Sheriff’s Department to mobilize for a High Visibility Seatbelt Enforcement campaign beginning in February.

The Richland County Sheriff’s Department, along with The Viola Police Department and The Lone Rock Police Department will join hundreds of other law enforcement agencies throughout Wisconsin for a safety belt enforcement campaign throughout 2019.

“We enforce Wisconsin’s mandatory safety belt law – not to write citations – but to help save lives and prevent needless injuries,” said Sheriff Bindl. “Right now in Wisconsin, we know that about nine of 10 motorists consistently wear a safety belt. We also know that the 10 percent who fail to buckle up account for nearly half of the drivers and passengers killed in Wisconsin traffic crashes each year.”

The state’s safety belt use rate of 89.4 percent is the highest ever, but still lags behind the national average. Last year in Wisconsin, there were 58,899 traffic convictions for failure to fasten a seat belt.

In Wisconsin, law enforcement officers can stop and cite motorists for failing to wear a safety belt. In addition, drivers can be cited for every unbuckled passenger in their vehicle. “Again, this is about preventing injuries and saving lives,” Sheriff Bindl said. “Before hitting the road, drivers need to ensure that everyone is buckled up, every seat, every trip.”

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#ClickItOrTicket