Richland County Sheriff's Office

Attempted Theft of a Boat from Vetesnik Power Sports

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On March 27, 2017, deputies responded to a call of suspicious activity near Vetesnik Power Sports. Upon arrival, deputies located a boat and trailer blocking the roadway on Sawmill Road off of US Hwy 14. Deputies located a vehicle parked nearby registered to Westphal. K9 Rambo was deployed and the area was searched. Westphal was located at a nearby business and arrested for felony theft, obstructin and operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated, second offense. Deputies were assisted on scene by the Richland Center Police Department.

WHEN: 3/27/2017          TIME of Incident: 9:14 PM

ARRESTED: Michael W Westphal, 32 of Blue River, WI

ARREST or CHARGES: 943.20 (3)(C) Felony Theft Over $10,000, 946.41 Obstructing an Officer, 346.63(1)(A) Operating a Motor Vehicle while Intoxicated, 2nd Offense

Other Agencies Involved: Richland Center Police Department

Richland County Law Enforcement Agencies Investigating Fraud Complaints

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The Richland County Sheriff’s Department and the Richland Center Police Department report that the two departments are investigating multiple fraud complaints involving identity theft and debit card fraud.
It appears that debit card numbers along with pin numbers have been compromised when the cards were used at area businesses recently.  Fraudulent purchases and withdrawals have been reported by local residents.

Law Enforcement recommends you monitor your accounts for unauthorized transactions. Report any suspicious account activity to your financial institution and your local law enforcement. Law Enforcement also recommends when using your debit card, take care to shield your PIN number.

Authorities Working to Identify 2 Men in Richland County Fraud Case

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On March 25, 2017 the Richland County Sheriff’s Department took a fraud complaint from a party in Richland County. The reporting party advised that her debit card was used to make fraudulent purchases at seven different Wal-Mart stores.  The incident happened on March 24, 2017 for approximately $850 dollars. Purchases were made from the Sun Prairie, Madison West & East, Stoughton, Baraboo and Lake Delton Wal-Mart stores. Law enforcement was able to get photos of two suspect parties and their vehicle. Both suspect parties are male Hispanics in their late 20’s and early 30’s. The suspect vehicle is a newer white Hummer with unknown plate.

If you are able to identify either suspect party or have other information regarding this complaint please contact the Richland County Sheriff’s Department at 608-647-2106.

Sting Operation Results in Arrest of 21 Year Old

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Officers of the Richland County Sheriff’s Department and Richland Center Police Department arrested a subject after an investigation revealed solicitation to have sex with a minor using electronic devices or a computer.

On March 6, 2017, law enforcement arrested Drew Sackmann of rural Hillpoint after an investigation revealed Sackmann was attempting to solicit sexual acts from a minor through electronic devices. Officer’s learned of Sackmann’s previous attempts to contact a minor, officers posed as the underage female where further contact was made by Sackmann. During that investigation, Sackmann made requests for sexual acts and sent inappropriate pictures while believing he was speaking to the minor. A meeting was set up by the investigating officer at Krouskop Park in Richland Center in which Sackmann believed the minor would meet him. Upon arrival, Sackmann was arrested by officers without incident. Officers were able to recover further evidence of the crime at the scene. Sackmann was transported to the Richland County Jail where he is awaiting a future court appearance.

WHEN:  03/06/2017    TIME of Incident:  7:05 PM

ARRESTED: Drew C. Sackmann of Hillpoint, WI

Other Agencies Involved: Richland Center Police Department

ARREST or CHARGES: Child Enticement (948.07), Use of a computer to facilitate a child sex crime ( 948.075 (1r)), Exposing a child to harmful material ( 948.11 (2a))

Arrest made in Burglary of the Bat Cave Saloon

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On Monday January 23rd 2017 at approximately 1:05am, forced entry was made into the Bat Cave Saloon in Gotham.  A male subject entered the building and took an undisclosed amount of cash from the saloon.  During the investigation of the burglary, pictures of the subject in the saloon were placed on the Sheriff’s Department Facebook Page.  The Sheriff’s Department received several tips from the community resulting in an arrest.  On Wednesday January 25th at approximately 9:59pm, deputies made contact with Joshua Crook.  After speaking with Crook, he was arrested in connection to the burglary.

Who Involved: Joshua D Crook, 26, of Gotham, WI

Arrest or Charges: 943.10 (1m)(a) Burglary, 943.01 (1) Damage to Property

Other Agencies Involved: Richland County Crime Stoppers, and the Richland Center Police Department

Drug Warrant Executed in Lone Rock

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On January 9, 2017, The Richland County Special Response Team, along with members of the Richland County Sheriff’s Department, Richland Center Police Department and the Richland-Iowa-Grant Drug Task Force, executed a search warrant on a residence in the Village of Lone Rock after a drug investigation.  The residence was located on the 400 block of E Union Street in the Village of Lone Rock. Three parties were arrested on drug charges.  Law enforcement was assisted by the Richland County District Attorney’s office along with Richland County Child Protective Services.

Arrest or Charges:

Tyler S Fashun, 22 of Lone Rock- Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Possession of Schedule II Narcotic, Maintaining a Drug Trafficking place

Allen L Gholson, 36 of Lone Rock- Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Maintaining a Drug Trafficking Place

Brettlyn Harvell, 19 of Lone Rock- Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Maintaining a Drug Trafficking Place

Incident at D&Z’s One Stop

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John Overshiner

John Overshiner

On Monday, January 9th, at 5:37am Richland County 911 received a call of a disturbance at D&Z’s One Stop in the Village of Lone Rock.  When Deputies arrived they discovered a male subject being held on the ground by two males and the clerk had been injured.  According to authorities, John P. Overshiner III of Fitchburg entered the store at around 5:37am and was reported as seeming “out of his head”.  Only the clerk and two delivery drivers were in the store at the time.  Overshiner ran behind the counter and physically grabbed the clerk on duty, identified as Melodie Wells of Lone Rock.  Overshiner wrestled her to the ground, causing minor injuries.  The two delivery drivers grabbed Overshiner and removed him from the clerk, holding him on the ground until deputies arrived.  Overshiner resisted deputies, breaking a body camera while struggling before he was taken into custody.  Melodie Wells was checked at the Richland hospital for minor injuries.  Lone Rock EMS assisted at the scene.  At this time the investigation continues.

Who Involved: John P Overshiner III, 29 of Fitchburg

Charges: Disorderly conduct, battery criminal damage to property and resisting arrest.

Other Agencies Involved: Richland County Sheriff’s Department and Lone Rock EMS

Drug Task Force Investigation Leads to Arrests

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Sheriff James Bindl of the Richland County Sheriff’s Department reports that on November 17, 2016, three Viola, WI residents were arrested for drug charges as a result of an investigation conducted by members of the Richland-Iowa-Grant Drug Task Force.

Nicole M. Titus, 31, and Kevin D. Branch, 39, from Viola were and tentatively charged for  possession of methamphetamine’s (meth), possession of THC (marijuana), possession of schedule IV drug, possession of drug paraphernalia, maintaining a drug house and numerous bail jumping charges.

Quienterrio O. Henderson, 37, of Viola was arrested and tentatively charged with possession of schedule I and II narcotic, possession of drug paraphernalia, maintaining a drug house, and numerous bail jumping charges.

Methamphetamine is a highly addictive stimulant that can have long-lasting effects on your body. This is a man-made substance that is also known as, crystal meth, and is often found in the form of a rock-like crystal that is usually a semi-transparent white or blue color. This substance is always illegal and has no other purpose than for abuse.

All charges have been forwarded to Richland County District Attorney Jennifer Harper for prosecution.

Assisting with the investigation were members of the Richland County Special Response Team (SRT) which consists of Deputies from the Richland County Sheriff’s Office and Officers from the Richland Center Police Department. Also assisting was the Viola Police Department, Viola EMS and Fire Department, and the Vernon County Sheriff’s Department.

Sheriff Bindl would like to point out the effort of the Richland-Iowa-Grant Drug Task Force and Special Response Team members in regards to this investigation. Sheriff Bindl notes the results of this investigation show the reality of what law enforcement faces daily, whether on patrol or working a drug investigation and the presence of these dangerous drugs in our community.

Sheriff Bindl along with Richland Center Police Chief Lucas Clements would like to remind citizens that their assistance is vital in combating the use and distribution of drugs within our community. Anyone witnessing suspected drug activity within their community are encouraged to notify law enforcement or Richland County Crime Stoppers at 608-647-CLUE (2583), where callers may remain anonymous and could be eligible for a cash reward.

ATV Accident Claims Life of Cazenovia Man

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The Richland County Sheriff’s Department Communications Center received a 911 call at 12:55pm (12/1/16) of an ATV rollover with injuries on Jungle Bar Lane in Westford township. Timothy J. Donovan, 26, of Cazenovia was attempting to unload a Foreman 4 wheeler from a trailer in the driveway at 13433 Jungle Bar Lane. As he backed the unit off the trailer, the unit rolled backward down the driveway and flipped end over end with Donovan on the machine. It landed on its wheels and continued across the roadway, coming to rest against a fence post. Witnesses to the incident called 911 and began CPR on Donovan, but he was pronounced dead at the scene by the Coroners Office. He was not wearing a helmet. Assisting at the scene was the Cazenovia EMS and Fire Departments, the WI. DNR and the Richland County Coroners Office.

Richland County Sheriff’s Department

 

Three Vehicle Injury Accident

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A semi tractor trailer was pulling out of a driveway onto US Hwy 14, west of Boaz, when a smaller passenger car that was traveling east struck the semi tractor in the rear axel.  As passers by were checking on the injured people in the car, another eastbound vehicle collided with the semi trailer, coming to rest partially under the trailer.  There was total road blockage.  The occupants of the passenger car were assisted out of the vehicle.  The driver of the second vehicle was pinned in the wreckage and was extricated by the Richland Center Fire Department’s Jaws of Life.  The driver of the semi was not injured.  The three injured persons were transported by Richland County EMS to the Richland Hospital.  One party was later flown by Med Flight to a Madison Hospital and another taken by Baraboo Ambulance Service to Madison.  Their conditions are not known at this time.

The investigation is on going at this time. No names have been released.

The Sheriff’s Department was assisted at the scene by Richland County EMS, Baraboo EMS, Med Flight, Richland Center Fire Department, Richland County Highway Department and the Wisconsin State Patrol.