Press Releases

Today, District Attorney Barry J. Braatz announced that Michael A. Westphal was sentenced for Trafficking of a Child and multiple counts of Possession of Child Pornography, stemming from a multi-jurisdictional investigation in 2023 and 2024, led by the Washington County Sheriff’s Office, which uncovered Westphal’s involvement in the trafficking of a child in the Philippines and possession of numerous images and videos of child sexual abuse.

On Monday evening, February 10, 2025 the Washington County Sheriff’s Office Dispatch Center received a tip from the Wisconsin Department of Justice about threats to commit a school shooting on Valentine's Day as well as killing the suspect’s best friend. The tip did not name a particular school. The tip identified a 19-year-old woman from the Town of Addison as the suspect. The 911 dispatcher recognized the seriousness of the threat and immediately contacted the shift supervisor. The suspect's residence was placed under surveillance and investigators worked throughout the evening on the investigation alongside Washington County District Attorney. Quickly we were able to identify that the suspect did not attend school, and we were not able to determine a locally targeted school.

On 02/09/2025 at 8:06pm, the Washington County Sheriff's Office Communication Center received 911 calls of a two vehicle head-on crash on Hwy 33 west of Hy 175 in the Town of Addison. Deputies, Wisconsin State Patrol Troopers, and Allenton Fire and Rescue were subsequently dispatched to the scene.

On Thursday, February 6, 2025 at approximately 2:44 p.m. the Washington County Sheriff’s Office received a 911 call from a residence on Prairie Lane in the Village of Richfield. The male caller asked the dispatcher to “send them please” and hung up. Dispatchers attempted to call the individual back, but they did not receive an answer. The first Washington County Deputy arrived at the residence within three minutes of the 911 call.

On 02/04/2025 at 2:57pm, the Washington County Sheriff's Office Communication Center received a 911 call from a passerby reporting visible flames coming from a residence on Plat Rd north of Monches Rd in the Village of Richfield. Deputies and Richfield Fire were subsequently dispatched to the scene.

On 01-26-2025 at 1:02pm, the Washington County Sheriff’s Office Communication Center received a 911 call from a passerby reporting flames coming out of the roof a residence on Hwy 175 in the Town of Hartford. The passerby attempted contact at the front door, however received no response. St. Lawrence Fire and Deputies were subsequently dispatched to the scene.

The Washington County Sheriff’s Office is releasing the following information pursuant to WI 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.

Washington County Sheriff’s investigators made several arrests early Thursday morning in connection with a fatal drug overdose that occurred in the City of Hartford in June of 2024. The investigation started with the City of Hartford Police Department investigating the deadly drug overdose of a 39-year-old Hartford woman. The Washington County Sheriff's Office Multi-Jurisdictional Drug unit opened an investigation into the source of drugs and was able to identify the suspect as a 30-year-old City of Milwaukee man. Washington County investigators collaborated with the Washington County District Attorney’s Office, the Wisconsin Department of Justice Division of Criminal Investigation Overdose Death Initiative, and the Wisconsin Counterdrug Program for several months. This investigation culminated Thursday morning with three search warrants executed by tactical teams in the City of Milwaukee and one in the Village of Grafton.

On December 29, 2024 at approximately 8:12 p.m., the Washington County Sheriff’s Office was notified of a two vehicle crash at the intersection of County Trunk P and County Trunk NN in the Town of West Bend. Deputies from the Washington County Sheriff’s Office and officers from the West Bend Police Department responded to the scene. West Bend Fire and Rescue also responded.