Richland County Sheriff's Office

Person of Interest Named in Death Investigation

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Andrew WeedenCounty Sheriff James J. Bindl announced this morning the identity of a male subject who is a person of interest in the recent death investigation in Orion Township.

On Saturday February 20th, the Sheriff’s Department received a 911 call from a residence on Catherine Street in the town of Orion.  When deputies arrived they found the body of Rachael A. Pauls inside the residence.   Deputies were told a male subject had fled the scene. After a quick and successful search by Richland County K9 TITAN. Andrew T. Weeden, 29 years old, was taken into custody on a probation violation.

Weeden is being held in the Richland County Jail.  According to Sheriff Bindl, Andrew Weeden is being considered a person of interest at this time.  Sheriff Bindl wants to reassure residents there is no danger to the public.

The incident remains under investigation.

Richland County Sheriff’s Department

Death Investigation in Orion Township

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Officials of the Richland County Sheriff’s Department are investigating a death in Orion Township in southern Richland County.  The Communications Center received a 911 call at approximately 2:44 pm Saturday reporting a subject who needed medical attention at 22004 Catherine St. in the Town of Orion.  When Emergency responders and Sheriff’s Deputies arrived at the scene, the body of a 32 year old female was located inside the residence.  The woman found dead as Rachael A. Pauls, 32, of Muscoda. It appeared the victim had suffered substantial trauma to her face. Deputies began a search for a male subject who had reportedly fled the scene.  Richland County Sheriff’s Sgt. Dane Kanable deployed K-9 TITAN who quickly and successfully tracked and located that male subject.  He was detained for questioning and subsequently booked into the Richland County Jail on a probation violation.   The Richland County Sheriff’s Department is working closely with the Richland County District Attorneys Office.  The incident remains under investigation.

Other Agencies assisting in the incident: Muscoda EMS, Muscoda Police Department, Richland County Coroners Office, Richland County District Attorneys Office, Wisconsin State Patrol, Wisconsin Department of Justice Mobile Crime Lab and the Wisconsin Department of Criminal Investigation

– Richland County Sheriff’s Department

Press Release – February 20, 2016

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Richland County Officials are investigating an incident that happened yesterday in Orion township, in the southern part of Richland County.

The Richland County Communications Center received a 911 call at approximately 2:45 pm, Saturday, February 20th, reporting a subject who needed medical care at a residence in the village of Orion.  Emergency Medical Services and Law Enforcement from Muscoda and the Richland County Sheriff’s Department responded to the scene.   After arrival it was determined that the incident warranted further investigation by law enforcement, and the investigation is continuing at this hour.  Officials want to stress there is no danger to the public from this incident.  The investigation continues.

Richland County Sheriff’s Department

Arrest Warrants Result in Numerous Felony Drug Crimes

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Chief Lucas Clements of the Richland Center Police Department reports that on January 27th, members of the Richland County Special Response Team along with local members of the Richland-Iowa-Grant Drug Task Force conducted an arrest warrant operation in the City of Richland Center. As a result of that operation, two Richland Center residents were arrested for numerous felony drug crimes. The operation was the culmination of a drug investigation by local members of the Richland-Iowa-Grant Drug Task Force.

Stephen J. Szuflita, 40, was arrested and tentatively charged for Maintaining a Drug Trafficking Place (4 counts), Manufacture/Deliver Schedule II Drugs, Manufacture/Deliver Schedule IV Drugs (2 counts), Manufacture/Deliver THC (3 counts), Possession of THC, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Bail Jumping.

Regina M. Heather, 42, was arrested and tentatively charged for Maintaining a Drug Trafficking Place (3 counts), Possession of Methamphetamine and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia.

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

The Richland County Special Response Team is a combined tactical unit consisting of officers from the Richland Center Police Department and deputies from the Richland County Sheriff’s Department.

Also assisting with the investigation were Richland County Health and Human Services and Richland County EMS.

Chief Clements would like to point out the effort of the Richland-Iowa-Grant Drug Task Force members in regards to this investigation. Chief Clements notes the results of this investigation show the reality of what law enforcement faces daily, whether on patrol or working a drug investigation, specifically polydrug use and abuse.

Polydrug use is the use of two or more drugs in combination with one another. Polydrug use has led to increasing health concerns including potentially fatal overdoses. The arrests in this investigation take this “one stop shop” for drug users out of the equation in our community.

Chief Clements along with Richland County Sheriff James J. Bindl would like to remind citizens to report any suspicious activity by notifying law enforcement. Callers who wish to remain anonymous can call Richland Area Crime Stoppers at 647-CLUE (2583) and may be eligible for a cash reward.

Richland Center Police Department

Police Department Concludes Arson Investigation

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The Richland Center Police Department and the Richland Center Fire Department have concluded their investigation into a fire that occurred at the Dr. Killian Meyer building in Krouskop Park on January 17th, 2016.

According to Chief of Police Lucas Clements, at approximately 2:23 pm on January 17, 2016, police and fire were dispatched to the Dr. Killian Meyer building located in Krouskop Park for a report of a fire. Officers from both departments responded and initial information indicated that a fire had occurred inside both the men’s and women’s restrooms of the building.

According to Fire Chief Bob Bindl, responders found that the interior of the bathrooms had experienced a fire which had self-extinguished, with the majority of the damage occurring in the men’s restroom. Fire Chief Bob Bindl noted the fire caused extensive smoke damage throughout the building.

According to City of Richland Center Parks, Recreation, and Grounds Director Shane Stibbe, who has been working with insurance adjusters throughout the past week, preliminary estimates concerning damage caused by the fire are at a minimum of approximately $70,000.

Chief Clements reports that on January 20th, 2016 at approximately 7:56 pm an Officer with the Richland Center Police Department received a tip with information concerning the fire and passed the information on to the investigating Officer.

Following up on this tip, the investigating Officer, through interviews and timely police work, found that three juveniles were responsible for setting the fire in the Dr. Killian Meyer building on January 17th. The juveniles, two from Richland Center and one from Lone Rock, have been referred to Richland County Health and Human Services for the crime of arson.

Assisting with the investigation were members of the Richland Center Fire Department, City Parks, Recreation and Grounds Department, and Richland County Health and Human Services.

Chief Clements states, “This is a prime example of how our community stepped up, took pride in what we have as a community, and provided information with the departments listed above to help solve an investigation and ultimately make our community safer.”

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Richland Center Woman Arrested for the Distribution of Heroin

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Ashley A DurstChief Lucas Clements of the Richland Center Police Department along with Sheriff James J. Bindl of the Richland County Sheriff’s Department report that an investigation conducted by the Richland-Iowa-Grant Drug Task Force has culminated in the arrest of a Richland Center woman for the distribution of heroin. Ashley A. Durst, 29, was arrested for one count of Delivery of Heroin, which occurred in the City of Richland Center. During the investigation Durst also delivered heroin on another occasion, however it occurred in a different jurisdiction. The case has been forwarded to the Richland County District Attorney’s Office for prosecution.

The Richland-Iowa-Grant Drug Task Force is a Tri-County combined investigative unit. Locally, members from the Richland Center Police Department and the Richland County Sheriff’s Department are assigned to investigate and combat area drug trafficking and abuse.

Chief Clements stated that highly addictive substances, such as Heroin and other narcotics, continues to be a focus of the Drug Task Force as it has been an increasing problem in the area, which has seen an increase in narcotic overdoses, some even resulting in death. Sheriff Bindl noted that narcotic distribution and/or usage has also been shown to be a contributing factor to other crimes against persons and property.

Chief Clements and Sheriff Bindl would like to remind citizens to report any suspicious activity by notifying law enforcement. Callers who wish to remain anonymous can call Richland Area Crime Stoppers at 647-2583 and may be eligible for a cash reward.

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Disturbance leads to Arrest in Lone Rock

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On January 15, 2016, at 4:55pm, the Richland County Communications Center received a call of a male subject, believed to be intoxicated, shooting a rifle in the village of Lone Rock.  Richland County Deputies responded and attempted contact with the residence where the subject lives and got no answer.  Further investigation led Deputies to believe there to be a female subject in the home also, and the male showed a criminal history including battery to law enforcement and the fact he was a felon and could not possess firearms.

Public safety concerns led  to a request for the Sauk County Sheriff’s Department Emergency Response Team and the Dane County Team for their armored vehicle.  Negotiations with the suspects to come out and speak with law enforcement went into the early morning hours.  The male was uncooperative, and stated several times he would shoot any deputies who entered the home.    Deputies used OC gas grenades launched from the armored vehicle to get the suspects out of the residence.  The two were taken into custody at around 5:12am.   No injuries were reported.  Charges are pending with the Richland County District Attorneys Office.

Involved: Scott G. Schalow, 43 of Lone Rock, WI 53556 and Tammy L. Hoffman, 52 of Lone Rock, WI 5355

Other Agencies Involved: Richland County District Attorney’s Office, Sauk County Emergency Response Team, Sauk County Negotiations Team, Dane County Emergency Response Team, Village of Lone Rock, Lone Rock EMS, Lone Rock Fire Dept., and Richland County Emergency Management

Arrest or Charges: Scott Schalow:  Felon in possession of a weapon, Disorderly conduct, and a probation hold.

 

Richland County Sheriff’s Department

DTF Investigation Leads to Drug Arrest

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On December 31st, 2015 members of the Richland-Iowa-Grant Drug Task Force apprehended a male subject identified as Larry S. Parmer, age 34 of Arena, through a pre-arranged meeting in the Lone Rock area. Parmer was involved in the delivery of a controlled substance, purported to be Heroin. Through this investigation Parmer was arrested for delivery of a Schedule I or II Narcotic Drug. The basis for the arrest stems from a separate, on-going investigation where subsequent charges of possession and delivering of Heroin are expected to be forwarded to the Richland County District Attorney’s Office for prosecution.

According to Sheriff James J Bindl, “We will continue to take the necessary steps to combat drug delivery and drug use in Richland County. These activities are not welcome here.”

The Richland-Iowa-Grant Drug Task Force, as well as Richland County District Attorney Jennifer Harper, continue to fight against Narcotic drug use and distribution of drugs in the area. Citizens are encouraged to work with law enforcement in that fight. Anyone with information related to illegal drugs or any other crime can call the Richland County Sheriff’s Department, the Richland Center Police Department or call Crime Stoppers at 647-CLUE (647-2583).

Involved: Larry S. Parmer, age 34, Arena, WI.

Richland –Iowa-Grant DTF

Crash Between a Passenger Car and ATV

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On 12/24/15 at 6:58am the Richland County Communications Center received a 911 call of a car vs ATV crash on US Hwy 14 west, just west of Cty Hwy ZZ on the Bashford Hill. The report was one person was injured and laying in the roadway. Richland County EMS, Richland Center Fire Duty Crew and Sheriff’s Department Deputies all responded.

When Sheriff’s Deputies arrived they discovered an adult male subject from Richland Center sitting in the roadway against a passenger car which had been driven by a party out of Soldiers Grove. Initial indications showed the male had attempted to cross the travel lanes of the highway when he was struck on the ATV by the westbound vehicle.

The male was transported to the Richland Hospital by Richland EMS,and was later transfered to UW Hospital in Madison with head injuries. He was not wearing a helmet at the time of the crash. The crash remains under investigation and alcohol is believed to have been a factor.

The Richland County Sheriff’s Department was assisted by Richland County EMS, and the Richland Center Fire Department.

WHEN: 12-24-2015 TIME of Incident: 6:58am

WHO Involved:  

  • ATV Rider/Injured:  Randall D. Buroker of Rural Richland Center
  • Passenger Car Operator:  Nicole L. Harding of Soldiers Grove

WHERE Incident Happened: US Hwy 14 West (West side of the Bashford Hill), Dayton Township, Richland County, WI

Richland County Sheriff’s Department

Drug Task Force Executes Search Warrant – 3 Arrested

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Crook - Rundle - Williams

Crook – Rundle – Williams

On 12/05/15 members of the Richland-Iowa-Grant Drug Task Force executed a search warrant at a residence at 352 E Exchange St in the Village of Lone Rock. While performing the search warrant, numerous items of drug paraphernalia, Methadone, Morphine, as well a quantity of Crystal Methamphetamine was located. Three suspects were located during the search and were arrested. Leanne K. Rundle, age 33 of Lone Rock, was charged with Resisting/Obstructing an Officer, Possession of Methamphetamine, and Possession of a Schedule II Narcotic. Sean T. Williams, age 37 of Lone Rock was also charged with Possession of Methamphetamine, Possession of a Schedule II Narcotic, and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Toney J. Crook, age 26 of Lone Rock, was charged with Possession of Drug Paraphernalia and Bail Jumping. Child Protective Services was contacted in regards to children living at the residence. Five dogs were also located and removed from the residence due to poor living conditions. Investigations are still ongoing at this time. Members of the Richland-Iowa-Grant Drug Task Force and the Richland County DA Office has assisted in this investigation.

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