Columbia County Sheriff's Office WI

06/04/2026

**** RIDE WITH THE LIGHTS ****

The Columbia County Sheriff's Office will again be participating in the Police Lights Of Christmas Ride With the Lights event occurring on June 27th.

Police Lights of Christmas raises funds that are transformed into gift cards given out to participating agencies prior to the holidays to help community members in need.

The Ride With the Lights event is one of the many ways these funds are raised.

You can help support this amazing program and help brighten the holidays for others by donating directly to the link below. Any funds raised on behalf of the Columbia County Sheriff's Office will be available to help our Columbia County citizens in need.

Show your support for Columbia County Sheriff's Office by donating to sponsor their squad in this year's Ride With the Lights!

06/02/2026

June is Elder Abuse Awareness Month. Financial scams frequently target our elderly family members, friends and neighbors. Awareness to these scams, and how they operate is an important part of preventing victimization.

Columbia County ADRC will be hosting a Scam Trends presentation on June 24th.

10AM at the Pardeeville Senior Center

1PM at Reach Out Lodi

Please RSVP by June 17th to ADRC at 608-742-9233.

06/01/2026

Today we recognize Lieutenant Jordan Haueter for 10 years of service with the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office. Lieutenant Haueter began his career with the Sheriff’s Office as a solo patrol deputy before being partnered with now retired K9 Mattis. K9 Mattis served loyally with Lieutenant Haueter until his retirement in July of 2023. Lieutenant Haueter currently oversees patrol operations and is heavily involved with the communities who have contracted services with the Sheriff’s Office. Please help us to congratulate Lieutenant Haueter on this milestone in his career!

05/26/2026

We're hiring for patrol! If you're WI LESB certified or certifiable, apply to join our team today! See our website for more details. https://www.co.columbia.wi.us/columbiacounty/hr/Human-Resources/Employment-Opportunities

05/25/2026

This Memorial Day, we stand united in remembrance of America's fallen heroes. Their bravery and sacrifice serve as a lasting reminder of the true cost of freedom. We honor them today and every day.

We extend our deepest gratitude for their service to our country, and they will never be forgotten.

05/24/2026

**** NEWS RELEASE - PURSUIT/DRUG ARREST ****

Authority: Lieutenant Mark Smit

On Friday, May 22nd, 2026, at approximately 2:16 AM, a deputy attempted to stop a vehicle traveling on HWY 60 in the Township of Hampden for a speeding violation. The driver of the speeding vehicle failed to comply, and a high-speed pursuit occurred.

After several miles, the suspect briefly stopped in the middle of the road before pulling onto the shoulder. Several officers from the Columbus Police Department responded to assist and the driver was taken into custody without further incident. A probable cause search of the vehicle was conducted which yielded controlled substances and paraphernalia.

The driver was identified as, Andre Scott, age 51, of Mount Horeb, WI. Scott was transported to the Columbia County Jail and is currently being held pending an initial appearance in Columbia County Circuit Court on the following charges:

-Flee/elude
-Failure to install ignition interlock
-Operating after Revocation
-Possession of Methamphetamine
-Possession of THC
-Possession of Drug Paraphernalia
-Misdemeanor Bail Jumping X3
-Warrants X2
-Numerous traffic citations

We are appreciative of the collaborative enforcement effort for the safety of our residents in Columbia County and glad that our agencies can work together to remove dangerous drivers and dangerous drugs from our communities.

The Columbia County Sheriff's Office was assisted by the Columbus Police Department and Brown’s Towing.

The charges are merely an accusation of criminal conduct where probable cause existed for an arrest. The individual is presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.

Sheriff Roger L. Brandner

05/17/2026

NEWS RELEASE – FATAL CRASH

Authority: Lieutenant Jordan Haueter

On Saturday May 16, 2026, at approximately 2:35 P.M., the Columbia County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call reporting a two-vehicle crash involving a small SUV and a motorcycle on CTH J near CTH CS in the Dekorra Township.

The caller reported there was a motorcycle down in the ditch. The operator of the motorcycle had significant injuries and was in need of immediate assistance. First responders arrived on scene shortly after the initial 911 call and immediately began to render first aid to the motorcycle driver.

The preliminary investigation shows the SUV, operated by a 19-year-old male from Dane, was travelling southbound on CTH J while a motorcycle, operated by a 71-year-old male from Sun Prairie, was travelling northbound on CTH J. Evidence at the scene showed the SUV to have been left of the center line near a curve in the road leading to a near head-on collision. The motorcycle driver was pronounced deceased on scene.

The driver of the SUV was uninjured in the crash.

The roadway was closed for over six hours to accommodate a thorough investigation.

The driver of the motorcycle will not be identified at this time pending notification of next of kin.

The Columbia County Sheriff's Office was assisted by the Poynette Police Department, Columbia County Chaplin, Lodi Police Department, Poynette Fire Department, Poynette EMS, Portage EMS, Columbia County Highway Department, Columbia County Medical Examiner's Office, Sun Prairie Police Department, Wisconsin State Patrol, UW Med flight, and Blystones Towing.

Sheriff Roger L. Brandner

05/16/2026

*****UPDATE - ROADWAY BACK OPEN AS OF 2105HRS. *****

***** ROAD CLOSED *****

2:50PM - CTH J is closed between CTH CS and Koltes Rd in the Town of Dekorra for a serious crash investigation.

Expect the roadway to be closed for several hours.

Please avoid the area.

05/15/2026

**** 2026 COPS AND BOBBERS ****

On Wednesday, the Columbia County Sheriff's Office hosted it's annual Cops and Bobbers event. Our staff was joined by staff from the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources, Columbus Police Department, Rio Police Department and Poynette Police Department to take 12 kids fishing. The weather wasn't the best, and the wind made casting tough, but the kids kept at it and caught fish as the afternoon went on. The smiles were overwhelming and we'd like to thank the children for joining us. This is one of those events we look forward to every year.

Thank you to all the volunteers that make this event possible, and Hwy Bait and Tackle, Portage Boat Club and the Columbia County Deputy Sheriff's Association for donations to support this event.

A very special thank you goes out to Johnny B's in Pardeeville. They have supported this event for several years and this year donated an abundance of delicious pizza for the kids and volunteers to eat.

Sheriff Roger L. Brandner

05/14/2026

**** S*X OFFENDER INFORMATION BULLETIN ****

A Community Notification Meeting will be held on Thursday, May 21st at 6PM at the Scott Town Hall, N8640 Larson Rd, Cambria.

The Columbia County Sheriff’s Office is releasing the following information pursuant to Wisconsin State Statute 301.46(2m) which authorizes law enforcement agencies to inform the public of a s*x 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 s*x offenses. Further, his criminal history places him in a classification level which reflects the potential to re-offend.

This offender has served the sentence imposed on him by the courts. He is NOT wanted by law enforcement at this time. This notification is not intended to increase fear, rather, it is our belief that an informed public is a safer public.

S*x offenders have always lived in our communities, but it was not until the S*x Offender Registration and Community Notification Law was enacted that law enforcement is able to share this information with the community. Citizen abuse of this information to threaten, intimidate, or harass registered s*x offenders will NOT be tolerated.

James T. Amour was convicted of First-Degree S*xual Assault in 1987. James Amour was placed under civil commitment in 1996 and has been under civil commitment since then.

Name: James T. Amour
Age: 62
S*x: Male
Height: 5’ 5”
Weight: 253
Hair: Black
Eyes: Brown

James Amour will be residing at N8013 State Highway 44. in the Town of Scott, Columbia County. James Amour’s Agent is Michelle Richards at (608) 742-4020.

James Amour is expected to move to this property the first week of June.

Additional S*x Offender information:

Questions regarding this offender or any other s*x offenders in the community can be found on the S*x Offender Registry Website www.wistaysafe.gov. You may also call the Wisconsin S*x Offender Registry at (608) 240-5830, Wisconsin Department of Corrections, Community Supervision Office at (608) 742-4020.