Richland County Sheriff's Department

Responsible Use of Social Media

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Chief Lucas Clements reports that there have been many social media posts within the last week about suspicious persons, attempted abductions, or sex trafficking in and around the Richland Center area. These concerns have been further fueled by the circulation of “shared” social media posts.

Chief Clements and Sheriff Jim Bindl report that the Richland Center Police Department and Richland County Sheriff’s Department have received a few “suspicious activity” calls over the past week. These complaints have consisted of females with children possibly being followed. We have thoroughly investigated the complaints and we take them very seriously. We have not, however, identified any criminality in the complaints we have received. The Richland Center Police Department and the Richland County Sheriff’s Department have had no reports of abductions, or even attempted abductions, in these complaints; nor have there been any indications that the complaints are associated with sex trafficking.

Chief Clements also states, “I have been in contact with law enforcement officials in the neighboring communities of Muscoda and Boscobel, which have been mentioned in social media posts for allegedly experiencing similar “suspicious activity” complaints. Both Chief Bill Schramm of the Muscoda Police Department and Chief Todd Stenner of the Boscobel Police Department have not had any official reports of the type of activity mentioned in social media.”

While social media is a powerful tool to share information, the “viral” sharing of unverified information concerning a few alleged incidents can lead people to believe there have been significantly more incidents than actually occurred and unfairly label individual(s) as suspects. Ultimately, this sharing of unverified information has contributed to people feeling overly fearful.

All law enforcement agencies, to include locally the Richland Center Police Department and Richland County Sherriff’s Department have ALWAYS encouraged the public to be aware of their surroundings for their personal safety and to report suspicious activity to Law Enforcement. If you feel that you are being followed by someone please use the following tips:

  1. Call 911 immediately to report, law enforcement does not continually monitor social media.
  2. If walking, stay in a public area. If driving, drive to a police department or continue to drive until Law Enforcement is able to locate you.
  3. Memorize, write down, or take a picture of the license plate number, vehicle, and/or suspect description or any other identifying information. This will assist Law Enforcement in their subsequent investigation.
  4. Do not confront the individual(s).

Appleton Man Injured in Motorcycle Crash

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On July 27th, 2018 at approximately 5:00 PM, James Stymiest of Appleton, WI was operating a motorcycle traveling westbound on State Hwy 60. Stymiest was negotiating a curve when he crossed the center line of the road and crashed into the driver side of an eastbound vehicle driven by Makenzi Christianson. Stymiest’s motorcycle then continued westbound into the north ditch line where Stymiest and motorcycle came to rest. Stymiest was transported by Muscoda EMS to Gotham where he was transferred to UW Med Flight and transported to Madison. The cars passenger Joshua Bockorny was transported by Lone Rock EMS to Richland hospital for non life threatening injuries. One lane of traffic on State Hwy 60 was closed for approximately an hour for emergency personnel. Stymiest is listed in stable condition at this time. The accident remains under investigation by the Richland County Sheriff’s Department.

WHO INVOLVED:
James Stymiest, 59, of Appleton, WI
Makenzi Christianson, 16, of Muscoda, WI
Joshua Bockorny, 27 of Muscoda, WI

OTHER AGENCIES INVOLVED:
Muscoda Fire & EMS
Lone Rock Fire & EMS
UW Med Flight

Motorcycle Fatality in Richland County

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On July 28th, 2018, at approximately 1:25pm the Richland County Communications Center was notified of a motorcycle verses pickup truck crash on State Hwy 56 at County Hwy A. A motorcycle operated by Kevin Graham, 47 of Mazomanie, WI was traveling Eastbound on State Hwy 56. As Graham approached the intersection with County Hwy A, a westbound pickup truck being operated by Karen Langer, 77 of Hillsboro, initiated a left hand turn to go South on County Hwy A. While Langer was negotiating the turn, Graham crested the hill and collided into the front of Langer’s truck. Graham’s motorcycle continued eastbound on State Hwy 56 and into the south ditch line just east of the intersection of County Hwy A where it came to rest. Karen Langer had no reported injuries. Kevin Graham was pronounced dead at the scene by a Deputy Richland County Coroner. One lane of traffic on State Hwy 56 was closed for approximately three and a half hours. The incident remains under investigation. This is the first traffic crash fatality of the year in Richland County.

OTHER AGENCIES INVOLVED:
 Richland Center Fire Department
Viola EMS
Richland County Coroner’s Office
Wisconsin State Patrol

 

Motorcycle Crash on US Hwy 14 Leaves One Injured

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On July 3rd, 2018 at approximately 1:20 P.M. Ronald Rood, 58 of Viroqua, WI was operating a motorcycle Westbound on US Hwy 14. While traveling Westbound on US Hwy 14 an unidentified dark colored car crossed the center line of the road forcing Rood to swerve to avoid a crash. After swerving Rood lost control of his motorcycle and Rood was thrown from motorcycle coming to rest on the east shoulder of the the roadway. Rood’s motorcycle continued into the east ditch line where it came to rest and the unidentified vehicle continued east bound on US Hwy 14 not stopping for the crash. Rood was transport by Richland EMS to the Richland Hospital for non-life threatening injuries.

This accident remains under investigation by the Richland County Sheriff’s Department.

OTHER AGENCIES INVOLVED: Richland County EMS and Richland Center Fire Department

 

Semi Rollover with Injuries on State Hwy 60

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On July 2nd, 2018 at 2:10 P.M Gerald Larmay of Two Rivers, WI was operating a semi traveling Eastbound on State hwy 60. Larmay was negotiating a curve when he lost control of the semi and entered the ditch on the North side of the Hwy. The semi then overturned coming to rest on its side. Larmay had to be extricated from the cab by Muscoda Fire Department. UW Med Flight landed in Gotham and transported Larmay to UW Health in Madison. State hwy 60 was closed for several hours while the semi was being removed. Larmay is listed in stable condition at this time. This accident remains under investigation by the Richland County Sheriff’s Department.

WHO INVOLVED: Gerald Larmay, 73 of Two Rivers

Other Agencies Involved:

Muscoda Fire & EMS
Richland Center Ambulance Service
Lone Rock Fire
Muscoda Police Department
UW Med Flight

Cazenovia Man Injured in Motorcycle Crash

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On 6/29/2018 at 6:11pm the Richland County Communications Center received a 911 call of a motorcycle accident in Bloom Township on County Hwy H north of Bloom City. Yuba Fire & First Responders, along with Kickapoo Rescue and the Richland County Sheriff’s Department responded. Authorities arrived on scene and discovered a Harley Davidson motorcycle, operated by Todd A. Catherall, 35 of Cazenovia, well off the roadway in a ditch. According to the report, Catherall was traveling north on County Hwy H following another motorcycle when he failed to negotiate a curve and traveled off the roadway on the right and down into a field. Catherall was injured and was transported by Kickapoo Rescue Squad to Gundersen St. Joseph’s Hospital in Hillsboro, and later transferred to University Hospital in Madison by UW Med Flight. Catherall was not wearing a helmet. Assisting at the scene was Yuba Fire Department, Yuba First Responders and Kickapoo Rescue Squad. The incident remains under investigation.

Tractor Fatality in Orion Township

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At 9:46pm Wednesday evening, the Richland County Communications Center received a 911 call of a tractor accident at 30119 County Hwy O in Orion Township.  The report was that a male subject was pinned under a tractor.  Richland County Ambulance, Richland Center Fire, and the Richland County Sheriff’s Department responded.  The incident happened in a dense and hilly portion of the property.  It appeared the victim, Charles Ray of Orion Township, was traveling down a hill on a path on a small Ford Tractor when it went off the path on the right and traveled down a deep ravine where the front of the tractor struck the ground and flipped over.  Charles Ray was pronounced dead at the scene by Richland County Coroner James Rossing.  Access to the scene was made by the fire department’s UTV.  The incident remains under investigation.

Sex Offender Compliance Check

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RICHLAND COUNTY SHERIFF, DEPARTMENT OF CORRECTIONS, AND U.S. MARSHALS CONDUCT SEX OFFENDER COMPLIANCE CHECK

Richland County, Wis. – The US Marshals along with the Wisconsin Department of Corrections Sex Offender Registry Program and the Richland County Sheriff’s Department conducted a residence verification operation for registered sex offenders. On May 30 and 31st deputies checked the addresses of 53 registered sex offenders in Richland County. Four were found to be non-compliant. The Sex Offender Registry Program Specialist will investigate and make recommendations to the district attorney as necessary.

This initiative is part of the working relationship between the US Marshals Sex Offender Investigations Branch and the Wisconsin Department of Corrections Sex Offender Registration Program which monitors all 24,187 Wisconsin Sex Offenders.

Sheriff James J. Bindl commented on how much appreciation he had to the US Marshal’s Service and the Dept of Corrections for conducting this operation. “Compliance checks are needed to help us ensure the safety of our citizens” Bindl said. “it was a successful cooperative effort.”.

The Wisconsin Department of Corrections maintains a database for the general public at http://offender.doc.state.wi.us/public/.

Richland County County SOIB 2018

Animal Abuse Results in Charges for a Loganville Woman

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According to Sheriff James J. Bindl: On 6/4/18 the Richland County Sheriff’s Department received a complaint of horses appearing to be in bad health on Shellington Drive. An investigation immediately started. The owner of the animals, Thurley Neumaier of Loganville, was contacted and questioned about the condition of two horses on the Shellington Drive property which authorities identified as in poor health. Neumaier indicated she knew the horses were under weight due to a tooth issue and because she had gotten behind in de-worming the animals. A local veterinarian was contacted by authorities and an opinion of the horses condition was given. As a result of the investigation, Thurley Neumaier was booked into the Richland County Jail and charged in Richland County Circuit Court with failure to provide for confined animals. Authorities checked the remaining horses on the property which appeared to be in good health.

Neumaier was released on bond.

WHO INVOLVED: Thurley Neumaier, 62, of Loganville, WI

ARREST or CHARGES: 951.13 (1) Failure to provide proper food and drink to confined animals

Deputies Investigating a 2-Vehicle Crash

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On 05-26-18 at 10:55 PM deputies responded to a report of a two vehicle crash on State Hwy 80 near Pauls Hill Drive. A vehicle being driven by Gregory Fischer, 33, of Richland Center, was traveling north bound on State Hwy 80 when an oncoming vehicle being driven by Daniel Bell, 35, of Richland Center, crossed the center line entering the north bound lane. The vehicles collided head on blocking the entire highway. Fischer and his passenger, Jessica Brown, 29, of Richland Center, were trapped in their vehicle and had to be extricated by the Richland Center Fire Department. Brown was transported to Richland Center Hospital by Richland County EMS for serious injuries and later transported to UW Health in Madison by UW Med Flight. Fischer was checked on scene by Richland County EMS and did not require treatment. Bell refused medical treatment on scene but was later transported to UW Health for non-life threatening injuries. Bell has been charged with operating while under the influence causing injury. The crash remains under investigation by the Richland County Sheriff’s Department.

WHEN: 05-26-2018          TIME of Incident:  10:55PM        Location: State Hwy 80 at Pauls Hill Dr

WHO INVOLVED:
Daniel Bell, 35 of Richland Center, WI

Gregory Fischer, 33 of Richland Center, WI
Jessica Brown, 29 of Richland Center, WI

Other Agencies Involved:
Richland Center Fire Department
Richland County EMS
UW Med Flight
Richland County District Attorney’s Office