Richland County Sheriff's Department

Traffic Stop Ends in Arrests, Seizure of 40 Grams of Methamphetamine

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RICHLAND CENTER POLICE DEPARTMENT
Press Release

The Richland Center Police Department reports that two subjects were taken into custody on methamphetamine charges on Sunday, November 11th.

Chief of Police Lucas Clements states that at approximately 9:00 p.m. on November 11th Officers with the Richland Center Police Department conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle within the City of Richland Center for an equipment violation.

Upon contact with occupants of the vehicle, Officers identified a passenger as Joshua D. Clarke, 31, of Richland Center. Clarke was placed under arrest for an active felony warrant through the Department of Corrections. A search of Clarke, incident to his arrest, revealed several baggies of methamphetamine on his person, individually packaged for sale.

Through subsequent investigation, more methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia were located within the vehicle.

In addition to being arrested on the Department of Corrections warrant, Clarke was also arrested for Possession of Methamphetamine with intent to deliver, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Resisting/Obstructing an Officer, and nine counts of Felony Bail Jumping.

The driver of the vehicle, Taylor N. Stolpa, 19, of La Crosse was arrested for Operating a Motor Vehicle with a Restricted Controlled Substance, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, and one count of Misdemeanor Bail Jumping.

Richland Center Police Department Officers were assisted on scene by the Richland County Sheriff’s Department.

Clarke and Stolpa were transported to the Richland County jail, with charges for both being forwarded to Richland County District Attorney Jennifer Harper for prosecution.

Chief Clements states “I would like to point out the diligence and thoroughness of the work that Officers displayed throughout this investigation, which lead to the largest methamphetamine seizure in Richland County to date.”

Sex Offender Information Bulletin Community Notification

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Area Residents:

The Richland Center Police Department 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.

The individual who appears on this notification has been convicted of a sex offense that requires registration with the Wisconsin Sex Offender Registration Program (SORP). Further, this individual’s previous history places him in a classification level that reflects the potential to re-offend.

This sex offender has served the prison sentence imposed on him by the courts. THIS PERSON IS NOT WANTED BY POLICE. This notification is not intended to increase fear; rather, it is our belief that an informed public is a safer public.

Sex offenders have always lived in our communities, but it was not until the Sex Offender Registration and Community Notification Law was enacted, that law enforcement was able to share this information with the community.

Citizen abuse of this information to threaten, intimidate or harass registered sex offenders will not be tolerated.

Date of photo: 08-2018

Steven N. Thomas, age 39. In 2010, he was convicted in Richland County Court of 2nd Degree Sexual Assault. The victim was a 16-year-old female. He is described as follows: Male/Black, 6’2”, 200 pounds, black hair, brown eyes.

RESIDENCE:
Upon release from incarceration on September 18, 2018, Steven Thomas will be living at 307 S. Church Street, Apt. #2 in the City of Richland Center.

EMPLOYMENT:
Employment will be approved by the Department of Corrections. No contact with children.

SUPERVISION PLAN:
1. No unsupervised contact with minors.
2. No taverns/bars/liquor stores. Not to consume alcohol or drugs.
3. Comply with standard sex offender rules.
4. Comply with any recommended treatment.
5. Comply with lifetime registration with the Wisconsin Sex Offender Registration Program.
6. Comply with electronic monitoring.

Agency Contacts:
Department of Corrections, Division of Community Corrections- Agent Dustin Popp, 647-4848.
Richland Center Police Department- Chief Lucas Clements, 647-2103.

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION:

To learn more about the Sex Offender Registration Program in the State of Wisconsin, or to obtain information on other registered sex offenders living in the Richland Center area, please visit the sex offender registration website at http://offender.doc.state.wi.us/public/.

To obtain information on anyone under supervision please visit the State of Wisconsin, Department of Correction’s website at http://doc.wi.gov/Home.

* This bulletin was prepared by the Richland County Sex Offender Registration Notification Team.

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).

Click It or Ticket 2018

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Richland Center Police Department and Richland County Sheriff’s Department to mobilize for Click It or Ticket safety belt enforcement from May 21st to June 3rd.

Both the Richland Center Police Department and the Richland County Sheriff’s Department will join hundreds of other law enforcement agencies throughout Wisconsin for the annual Click It or Ticket safety belt enforcement campaign from May 21 to June 3.

“We enforce Wisconsin’s mandatory safety belt law – not to write citations – but to help save lives and prevent needless injuries,” said Chief Lucas Clements. “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 James Bindl said. “Before hitting the road, drivers need to ensure that everyone is buckled up, every seat, every trip.”

Traffic Contact Leads to K9 Deployment and Drug Arrest

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On 03-04-18, Sander was observed operating a vehicle in the City of Richland Center with a revoked driver’s license. Contact was made, and Sander was arrested and transported to the Richland County Jail. K9 Rambo was utilized for an open free-air sniff of the vehicle being operated by Sander and gave a positive alert to the odor of illegal narcotics. A search of the vehicle resulted in numerous baggies of a white crystal substance that later tested positive for methamphetamine. Glass smoking devices, a digital scale, and other items of drug paraphernalia were also located in a bag belonging to Sander inside the vehicle. Sander was also out on misdemeanor bond through Richland County for a previous Operating after Revocation arrest. Any suspicious activity can be reported to Richland County Crime Stoppers at 647-CLUE (2583).

WHEN: 3/4/18       TIME of Incident:  07:39PM

WHO Involved: Treagir J. Sander

Agencies Involved: Richland Center Police Department, Richland County Sheriff’s Department, and the Richland County District Attorney

WHERE Incident Happened: N. Jefferson Street & W. Mill Street

ARREST or CHARGES: Possession with Intent to Deliver Methamaphetamine, Possession of Drug Paraphernalia, Operating After Revocation, Bail Jumping

Two Arrested on Methamphetamine Charges

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RICHLAND CENTER POLICE DEPARTMENT
Press Release
December 21st, 2017

The Richland Center Police Department reports that two subjects were taken into custody on methamphetamine charges early Thursday, December 21st.

Chief of Police Lucas Clements states that at approximately 1:00 a.m. on December 21st Officers with the Richland Center Police Department conducted a traffic stop on a vehicle within the City of Richland Center for an equipment violation. During the normal course of the traffic stop, K-9 Rambo, from the Richland County Sheriff’s Department was deployed. K-9 Rambo gave a positive indication on the vehicle for the presence of narcotics.

The driver and a passenger in the vehicle were removed. Upon their removal, Officers observed the two begin to act nervous and reach inside their pockets. Subsequent investigation recovered methamphetamine from both parties.

As a result, the driver of the vehicle, Lori L. Oman, 47, of Sextonville was arrested for possession of methamphetamine, operating while under the influence of a controlled substance-4th offense, misdemeanor bail jumping, and cited for operating after suspension.

The passenger, Joshua D. Clarke, 30, of Richland Center was arrested for possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, and felony bail jumping.

Charges for both Oman and Clarke will be forwarded to Richland County District Attorney Jennifer Harper for prosecution.

Chief Clements adds, “This is yet another fine example of the alert work that our Officers and Deputies do each day and night to keep our community safe.”

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Third Member of Methamphetamine Conspiracy Sentenced

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RICHLAND CENTER POLICE DEPARTMENT
Press Release
November 17th, 2017

Richland Center Police Chief Lucas Clements would like to pass on a press release from the United States Department of Justice, involving the sentencing of a Richland County resident for conspiring to distribute methamphetamine. Local members from the Richland-Iowa-Grant Drug Task Force assisted several Federal, State, Out-of-State and Local law enforcement agencies during this lengthy investigation.

MADISON, WIS. — Jeffrey M. Anderson, Acting United States Attorney for the Western District of Wisconsin, announced that James Nehls, 31, Lone Rock, Wis., was sentenced today by U.S. District Judge William M. Conley to seven years in federal prison for conspiring to distribute methamphetamine. Nehls pleaded guilty to this charge on August 31, 2017.

The amount of methamphetamine attributable to Nehls was approximately 42 ounces. During sentencing, Judge Conley described the amount of methamphetamine distributed through this entire conspiracy as “staggering” for Madison.

Nehls and seven other individuals were charged in an indictment returned by a federal grand jury in March for their roles in this methamphetamine distribution conspiracy. Seven of the eight individuals charged in the indictment have pleaded guilty; Nehls is the third to be sentenced.

The charge against Nehls was the result of an investigation conducted by the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation; Drug Enforcement Administration- Madison, Wisconsin and Los Angeles, California; Dane County Narcotics Task Force; Dane County Sheriff’s Department; Madison Police Department; UW-Madison Police Department; U.S. Postal Inspection Service; Sauk County Drug Task Force; Richland-Iowa-Grant Drug Task Force; Lafayette County Sheriff’s Office; State Line Area Narcotics Team; and Rock County Special Investigations Unit. The prosecution of the case has been handled by Assistant U.S. Attorneys David Reinhard and Diane Schlipper.

Chief Clements adds that, “There are other local parties involved with this federal investigation that are awaiting adjudication in the Federal Court system.”

 

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Alert Patrol Officers and Deputies Make Drug Arrests in Richland Center

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RICHLAND CENTER POLICE DEPARTMENT
Press Release
November 17th, 2017

Richland Center Police Chief Lucas Clements reports two recent drug arrests within the City of Richland Center.

While on patrol November 15th, a Deputy with the Richland County Sheriff’s Department contacted the operator of a suspicious vehicle parked in the parking lot of a closed business within the City of Richland Center. During the contact, it was learned that the operator had driven to the parking lot and had a revoked driver’s license due to an OWI related offense. The operator was arrested for driving after revocation. Upon his arrest, the operator began acting nervous at the presence of the Richland County Sheriff’s Department K-9 being on scene. K-9 Rambo was deployed and gave a positive indication on the vehicle in question. A search of the vehicle located methamphetamine.

The operator of the vehicle, Perry M. Phillips, 27, of Richland Center was arrested on possession of methamphetamine, operating while revoked (OWI related), and for three counts of bail jumping. At the time of his arrest on November 15th, Phillips had been previously released from custody on two Richland County bail bonds and one Iowa County bail bond. Assisting with the arrest of Phillips were Officers from the Richland Center Police Department.

Perry M. Phillips

After being incarcerated in the Richland County Jail, Phillips became physically unruly and assaultive towards Deputies. As a result of the incident in the jail, Phillips is facing the additional potential charges of battery by a prisoner to an officer and disorderly conduct. A Deputy injured in the incident was treated and released from the Richland Center Hospital the same day.

Sheriff James Bindl states, “This arrest is an example of what our Deputies inside the jail deal with day in and day out. Just because the jail is a secure facility doesn’t mean our Deputies don’t face dangers. I’m thankful our Deputies were able to quickly and calmly neutralize this volatile situation without further incident.”

One night later, November 16th, an Officer with the Richland Center Police Department made a traffic stop on a vehicle within the City of Richland Center. During the normal course of the traffic stop, a Deputy with the Richland County Sheriff Department approached the vehicle with K-9 Rambo. Before being able to deploy Rambo, alert Officers observed a passenger in the vehicle begin to reach for his pants pocket. Officers ordered the passenger to stop reaching for his pocket, which he did not. Officers quickly responded to the passenger’s non-compliance, removing him from the vehicle and securing him. Subsequent investigation recovered methamphetamine from the pocket the passenger had been reaching for.

As a result, James R. Heather, 27, of Baraboo and formerly of Gotham, was arrested on possession of methamphetamine. A criminal check also indicated Heather had an outstanding warrant through the Department of Corrections.

James R. Heather

Charges for both Phillips and Heather will be forwarded to Richland County District Attorney Jennifer Harper for prosecution.

Chief Clements commented,  “Great, solid arrests!  I appreciate our Officers and Deputies being alert to the criminal activities happening in our community and using their extensive training to be certain those committing crimes are transitioned out of our community and into jail.  I am grateful for the excellent work all of our Officers and Deputies do on a daily basis.”

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Skimmer Device – Press Release

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RICHLAND CENTER POLICE DEPARTMENT
Press Release
March 29, 2017
For Immediate Release

Chief of Police Lucas Clements reports that the police department received several debit card fraud complaints over the past weekend. Each complaint involved debit card numbers and their associated PIN being stolen and then used fraudulently on a cloned debit card.

This type of crime and method is consistent with thieves using a “skimmer” device that can be used to obtain credit or debit card information. The use of “skimmers” has become more common across the country in recent years, with “skimmers” typically being placed inside gas pumps, making them undetectable without opening the pump.

After the thieves place the “skimmer” inside a gas pump, they return after a period of time and remove the device and or simply collect the data, which consists of the credit or debit card information from customers paying at the pump.

While investigating the rash of debit card fraud complaints, Chief Clements states the police department contacted our local gas stations to assist in checking for “skimmer” devices. As a result, one “skimmer” device was located at Triangle Kwik Stop (TKS) on Sextonville Road and removed by law enforcement. No additional “skimmers” were located within the city.

TKS has added additional anti-tampering security features and monitoring to each of their pumps, there isn’t a concern of further accounts being compromised. [Read more…]

RCPD – Recent Burglaries within the City

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Chief of Police Lucas Clements reports that the police department is investigating two burglaries which occurred in the downtown area over the past month. According to Chief Clements, the Hunter’s Outlet, located at 182 N. Main St. was entered December 17th at approximately 9:00 p.m. and again on December 19th at approximately 1:15 a.m., with handguns taken each time.

Clements states that significant physical force was used to gain entry during the burglaries. The police department is encouraging area businesses to be extra vigilant with physical security, especially in their closing and opening procedures.

The police department is asking the public for their help in solving these crimes. If someone has information about these crimes, or observes suspicious activity, they are encouraged to contact the Richland Center Police Department at 647-2103 or Richland Area Crime Stoppers at 647-CLUE (2583). Callers to the Crime Stoppers line may remain anonymous and may be eligible for a cash reward.