RCPD — Page 3

Police Department Concludes Arson Investigation

January 25, 2016 By admin Leave a Comment

: Damage caused by the fire.

: Smoke and heat damage to electrical and HVAC fixtures.

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 17^th, 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 20^th, 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 17^th. 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

January 19, 2016 By admin Leave a Comment

Chief 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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RCPD makes an Arrest for Attempted 1st Degree Intentional Homicide

September 26, 2015 By admin Leave a Comment

Nina Fields

The Richland Center Police Department is continuing their investigation into an attempted 1^st degree intentional homicide that occurred in the City in the days leading up to Sunday, September 20, 2015.

Chief of Police Lucas Clements reports that in the early morning hours of Sunday, September 20^th dispatch received a call from the Madison Police Department wishing to speak with an officer from the Richland Center Police Department. At 2:02 a.m. an officer placed a phone call to a Lieutenant with the Madison Police Department. The officer learned that the Madison Police Department had been contacted by staff at Meriter Hospital, who had concerns that one of their patients had possibly been intentionally poisoned.

Preliminary investigation showed that the victim was a 68 year old female resident of the City of Richland Center that had been transferred from the Richland Hospital to Meriter Hospital on the afternoon of Friday, September 18^th. The victim’s condition had gotten considerably worse throughout the morning of Saturday, September 19^th at which time she was put on dialysis and had further blood work tested that ultimately showed high levels of Ethylene Glycol (antifreeze) in her system. [Read more…]