Richland County Sheriff's Department

Welfare Check Leads to Arrest for OWI 6th Offense

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On June 22, 2017 a Richland County Deputy was traveling on US Hwy 14 East and noticed a vehicle pulled to the side of the road with its hazard lights flashing. The Deputy stopped to check on the vehicle and found it running with one male occupant in the drivers seat. The Deputy detected an odor of intoxicant and investigated further. As a result of the investigation, Steven L. Overman of Lone Rock was arrested for OWI, 6th offense. The Deputy discovered a cold 12 pack of beer in the vehicle that had several cans missing. Overman admitted to consuming alcohol while driving in the area for about an hour an a half. Steven Overman was transported to the Richland County Jail without incident. Charges on the incident will be forwarded to the Richland County District Attorney’s Office.

Who Involved: Steven L. Overman, 67 of Lone Rock, WI

WHEN: 6/22/2017          TIME of Incident: 4:25 AM

ARREST or CHARGES: Operating a motor vehicle under the influence, 6th Offense

Traffic Stop leads to K9 Track and Felony OWI Arrest

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Richland County Dispatch received a report from a concerned motorist of a vehicle traveling westbound on State Hwy 56 near the village of Gillingham. Information was that the vehicle was driving recklessly and almost hit multiple vehicles head on. The vehicle eventually became stuck in a ditch near a private driveway just off of Hwy 56 by County Hwy H. Deputies arrived a short time later and the suspect ran from that location on foot. K9 Rambo was deployed and located Collins hiding from law enforcement in a grassy wood line nearby. Collins was taken into custody and transported to the Richland County Jail on multiple charges.

WHEN: 5/16/2017          TIME of Incident: 6:29 PM

ARRESTED: Kelly W. Collins, 48 of Richland Center, WI

ARREST or CHARGES: 946.41 Resisting or Obstructing Officer, 946.49(1)(b) Felony Bail Jumping, 346.63(1)(a) Operating while Intoxicated (5th Offense) (Felony), also cited for multiple traffic violations

Other Agencies Involved: Richland Center Police Department

Trespassing Complaint leads to K9 Track and OWI Arrest

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On October 11th, 2016, shortly before 9 pm, deputies were dispatched to a female subject trespassing in a large field just east of County Hwy O in Orion Township. When deputies arrived on scene, a vehicle was found abandoned in a private field approximately .8 miles from the roadway.  Next to the vehicle was a bottle of Vodka laying just outside the driver side door. Multiple commands were given over the squad’s loud speaker for the suspect to turn herself in. After no response from the suspect, K9 Rambo was deployed for a open area search/track in an attempt to find the individual. K9 Rambo led deputies through multiple fields and eventually located the female subject hiding in tall grass and weeds near a power pole. The suspect, who was later identified as Jennifer J. Storkson, 38 yrs old of Cazenovia, was taken into custody and charged with Operating Under the Influence of an Intoxicant 1st Offense. This charge is being forwarded to the Richland County District Attorney’s Office for prosecution.

Who Involved: Jennifer J. Storkson, 38 of Cazenovia

Charges: 346.63 (1)(a) Operating Under the Influence of Intoxicant, 1st Offense

Other Agencies Involved: Richland Center Police Department

– Richland County Sheriff’s Department

Arrest made for OWI 9th Offense

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On Saturday, July 2nd, at approximately 7:28 pm a male party was seen by deputies entering his vehicle outside the Steel Horse Bar in the Village of Gotham with what appeared to be an open alcoholic beverage in his hand.  Deputies attempted to make contact with the subject as he started his vehicle and began backing up, the subject did come to a stop on 3rd Street.  The driver of the vehicle was found to be impaired and arrested for OWI 9th offense.  The driver also did not have a valid driver’s license and was charged with operating after revocation along with possessing an open intoxicant in a motor vehicle.

Who Involved: Mark E. Wastlick, 54 of Gotham, WI

Charges: OWI 9th Offense, Operating after Revocation, Possession of Open Intoxicant in Motor Vehicle

– Richland County Sheriff’s Department

Arrest for 7th OWI Offense

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JoshuaPerkieOn 05/22/2016 the Richland County Sheriff’s Department received a call of an intoxicated male party in the Richland Hospital parking lot leaving in a blue car. Deputies were able to locate suspect vehicle traveling north bound on Church St in Richland Center and did observe erratic driving while following the vehicle. Suspect vehicle was stopped at the intersection of 4th/Church St in Richland Center. When the deputy made contact with operator (Joshua Perkie) he noticed a strong odor of intoxicants coming from the operator of the vehicle and observed open intoxicants in the vehicle. When a check was done on Perkie’s drivers status it showed that Perkie was revoked due to an OWI related offense. Perkie was asked to perform standardized field sobriety test by deputy and showed signs of impairment. Perkie was arrested for OWI 7th offense, which is a felony in the state of Wisconsin.

WHEN: 05/22/16       TIME of Incident:  Approx 9:35 pm

Who Involved: Joshua J Perkie 03/16/1984 Muscoda, WI

Agencies Involved: Richland County Sheriff’s Department and Richland Center Police Dept.

WHERE Incident Happened: 4th/Church St, Richland Center, WI

ARREST or CHARGES: Joshua J Perkie: Operating while under the influence 7th Offense (Felony), Operating while revoked 2nd Offense and Failure to install Ignition Interlock Device.

Richland County Sheriff’s Department

One Vehicle Crash Results in OWI 5th

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On 05/20/2016 the Richland County Sheriff’s Department received a complaint of a one vehicle crash with injuries at the intersection of CTH A/Coulter Hill Rd in Richland County.

Upon arriving on scene deputies were advised that passenger George Schmidt had injuries from the crash and was transported by Viola EMS to Vernon Memorial Hospital for non-life threatening injuries.

Deputies made contact with operator of the vehicle Leland Mellum and notice a strong odor of intoxicants coming from his breath. When a check was done on Mellum’s driver status it showed that he was revoked due to an OWI related offense. Mellum was asked to perform standardized field sobriety test by deputy and showed signs of impairment. Mellum was arrested for OWI 5th offense with injury, which is a felony in the state of Wisconsin and operating while revoked.

WHEN: 04-02-2016 TIME of Incident: 1:59am

WHO Involved: 

  • Leland L. Mellum 11/11/1956, Richland Center, WI

    • George J. Schmidt 11/19/1951 Soldiers Grove, WI

WHERE Incident Happened: CTH A @ Coulter Hill Rd

ARREST or CHARGES: Operating while under the influence 5th offense with injury (felony), operating while revoked.

Agencies Involved: Richland County Sheriff’s Department, Viola EMS, Richland Center Fire Department, and Boaz First Responders

Richland County Sheriff’s Department

Second Offense OWI and Drug Charges

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On October 9th, 2015 at approximately 3:20 AM Deputies observed two vehicles in the village of Lone Rock traveling on Union Street. As one of the deputies was following the two vehicles they turned onto Pearl Street. The vehicles then left the roadway and drove through a yard to a residence located on the 300 block of East Pearl Street. Deputies then made contact with the occupants of both vehicles and noticed that the driver of one of the vehicles showed signs of impairment. The driver was verbally identified as Corey L Girton. Girton was asked to perform standardized field sobriety tasks at that time. After the tasks were performed Girton was arrested for operating while under the influence 2nd offense and operating after revocation. A search of the vehicle was conducted after the arrest. Recovered from the vehicle was close to a half ounce of marijuana as well as other drug paraphernalia. Girton was booked into the Richland County jail on felony drug charges as well as the operating while under the influence 2nd offense.

[Read more…]

PRESS RELEASE – Traffic Stop Leads to Two OWI Arrests

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On September 20th, 2015 at approximately 2:20 a.m a Richland County Sheriff’s Deputy observed a vehicle traveling eastbound on U.S Hwy 14 near Old Mill Rd. The Deputy observed the vehicle cross the center line and a traffic stop was initiated. When the vehicle came to a stop, the Deputy observed the driver and passenger switch seats while remaining inside the vehicle. Contact was made with James Ewers who was now operator of the vehicle. Ewers was asked to perform standardized field sobriety testing at that time. Ewers showed signs of impairment during the testing and was arrested for operating while under the influence 1st offense. Ewers informed the Deputy that he did in fact switch seats with the original driver after he was asked to. Contact was then made with Matthew Nave who was seated in the passenger seat. Nave was asked to perform standardized field sobriety tasks at that time as well. Nave also showed signs of impairment and was arrested for operating while under the influence 2nd offense and operating while revoked. [Read more…]

Press Release – 6th Offense OWI Arrest

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For Immediate Release
May 1, 2015

6th Offense OWI Arrest

On May 1st, 2015, a Deputy from the Richland County Sheriff’s Department stopped a vehicle on US
Highway 14 near Gotham for speeding and passing in a no passing zone. Contact was made with the
driver who was believed to be under the influence and standardized field sobriety tests were performed
in which the driver showed severe impairment. The 65 year male old driver of Racine, WI, was arrested for
OWI 6th offense and an extraditable warrant out of the state of Michigan for an OWI related offense. He is
currently being held in the Richland County Jail.

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Press Release