Richland County Sheriff Darrell Berglin has announced that he will be retiring at the end of his current term of office in January of 2015. The long time veteran of the Richland County Sheriff’s Department was first appointed sheriff by Wisconsin Governor, Tommy G. Thompson in February of 1996 to complete the term of Sheriff Fred Schram who had died in office on January first of that year. Since his appointment, Darrell Berglin has been elected to three two year terms of office and three four year terms as sheriff. At the end of his current term, Berglin will have served 19 consecutive years, the longest consecutive term as sheriff in Richland County history. [Read more…]
Daytime Burglaries
Richland County Sheriff Darrell Berglin said his department is continuing to investigate a series of daytime burglaries which have occurred in Richland County in recent weeks. Berglin said that his deputies are working in cooperation with deputies in Vernon County and Sauk County who are also investigating multiple daytime burglaries occurring in their jurisdictions.
ATV Accident on County Hwy AA
On Saturday, July 26, 2014 at approximately 6:40 pm the operator of a Polaris Ranger was traveling northbound on County Hwy AA when they lost control of the vehicle. The ranger left the roadway hitting the gravel shoulder on the right side, the driver of the ranger then corrected the vehicle back onto the roadway and then again overcorrected causing the vehicle to roll three times in the east ditch and eventually coming to rest on it’s wheels in a driveway facing south. The driver and middle passenger were not wearing their seatbelts and were both ejected from the vehicle. The third occupant was wearing their seatbelt and stayed in the ranger. The driver, age 12 along with the middle passenger, also age 12 were transported by Richland Ambulance to the Richland Hospital with injuries. The third occupant, age 11 was taken to the Richland Hospital with minor injuries and was released.
Ithaca School Construction Site Fatality
Sheriff Darrell Berglin reports at 11:52 am June 20, 2014 Richland County 911 center received an emergency call indicating a man was trapped under a crane.
Sheriff Deputies responded along with Richland County EMS, Ithaca First Responders, and the Richland Center Fire Department.
Sheriff Deputies found a male with head injuries lying on the ground near the bent boom of a crane. Attempts to resuscitate him were not successful. Richland County Coroner was called to the scene and Christopher G Kraemer 30 of Spring Green was pronounced dead at the scene.
The case remains open and is being investigated by OSHA and Kraemer Brothers.
Motorcycle operator injured after striking a deer in Westford Township
5/25/14 2:59AM – Block was operating a 2009 Harley Davidson traveling northbound on CTH II approximately 0.3 mile north of Corwin Ridge Rd. Block’s motorcycle strikes a deer and he is thrown from it. Anthony A. Block, 33, of Cazenovia, was not wearing a helmet and suffers injuries to face, head, and chest. Block was transported by Cazenovia EMS to the Richland Hospital and then by Medflight to UW Hospital in Madison.
Cazenovia Fire and EMS assisted the Richland County Sheriff’s Department at the scene.
One car crash resulting in a fatality
On 05/24/2014, shortly after 8 PM, Richland County 911 received a report of a single vehicle crash on Excelsior Rd west of CTH F. Upon arrival, a 2003 Ford Ranger was seen resting down a steep embankment. First responders did have to use ropes and basket to rescue the driver. The driver was taken to Boscobel Hospital via ambulance but did succumb to injuries. Eyewitness accounts did say Larry D. Holloway, 51, of Blue River, did veer off the road only after avoiding a collision with an oncoming vehicle. The investigation did reveal that Holloway was not wearing a seatbelt and speed and alcohol was a contributing factor.
Blue River Fire / EMS and Boscobel EMS assisted the Richland County Sheriff’s Department at the scene.
Motorcycle northbound on STH 58 lost control and was ejected into ditch. Operator suffered fatal injuries.
On 05/24/2014 at approximately 5:33 PM Angela Novotny, 37 of La Valle, was operating a motorcycle northbound on STH 58 when she lost control of the motorcycle and was ejected from the cycle onto the west side ditch line. Novotny was transported to Reedsburg Memorial by Cazenovia EMS. Novotny was then transported to UW-Madison by Med Flight where she succumbed to her fatal injuries.
Cazenovia EMS and Fire assisted the Richland County Sheriff’s Department on scene.
Two Car Crash on USH 14 in front of Mcdonald’s with Injuries
On 05/22/2014 at 8:05 PM, Richland County 911 received a call of a 2-car crash on USH 14 at McDonald’s. The investigation found that McGrath, driving her 2003 Saturn Ion, pulled out of the McDonald’s parking lot onto USH 14 when a 2002 Dodge Durango driven by Olson crashed into the Ion. Olson’s vehicle veered off USH 14 coming to rest alongside NAPA Auto. The Ion came to rest along the shoulder. McGrath was transported to the hospital via ambulance. Olson and her 3 passengers suffered minor injury. Both vehicles were towed from the scene.
Richland County EMS and Richland Center Fire assisted the Richland County Sheriff’s Department at the scene.
Calandra Death Investigation #2
Richland County Sheriff Darrell Berglin says his department is nearing the end of their preliminary investigation into the death of a 53 year old Lone Rock man found dead in the snow outside his residence early Tuesday morning. According to the sheriff, after evaluating the information in the case so far, and after reviewing reports of the autopsy performed Wednesday morning, the death of Richard Calandra is not considered a homicide and that no other person was present at the scene at the time his death. [Read more…]
Elder – Sex Offender Notification
The Richland County Sheriff’s Department in cooperation with the Richland County Sex Offender Notification Team is releasing the following information pursuant to Wisconsin State Statute 301.46(2m) which authorizes law enforcement agencies to inform the public of a sex offender’s release when, in the discretion of the agency, the release of information will enhance public safety, awareness and protection.
In December of 2013 a Richland County Jury determined that John A. Elder, 43, of Richland Center, no longer met the criteria of a civil commitment under Wisconsin’s sexually violent person’s law. After the trial Elder was released from Sand Ridge Secure Treatment Facility in Mauston, Wisconsin and moved to the Green Bay area. [Read more…]