18 arrested in Platteville drug investigation

Eighteen people are facing possible drug charges in Platteville in connection with an investigation into the sale of marijuana and cocaine in the area.

Platteville police Chief Doug McKinley said 18 people were arrested Wednesday in the city and on the University of Wisconsin-Platteville campus. He said he hopes the arrests will send a message that drug dealing and drug use will not be tolerated.

The arrests were carried out by the Richland-Iowa-Grant Drug Task Force.

The drug task force said it has been conducting investigations into drug-related activities during the past 10 months. 

According to a news release, authorities arrested:

• Peter Wycklendt, 21, on three counts of manufacturing/delivery of marijuana
  
• Ryan Schlosser, 22, on one count of manufacturing/delivery of marijuana
  
• Michael Depons, 21, on three counts of manufacturing/delivery of marijuana
  
• Craig Wilson, 19, on three counts of manufacturing/delivery of marijuana
  
• Ross Kopiske, 21, on one count of manufacturing/delivery of marijuana
  
• Cole Durdan, 21, on three counts of manufacturing/delivery of marijuana
  
• Austin Krueger, 20, on three counts of manufacturing/delivery of marijuana
  
• Ashley Kloss, 21, on three counts of manufacturing/delivery of marijuana
  
• Randall Runge, 23, on three counts of manufacturing/delivery of marijuana
  
• Andrew Fells, 23, on one count of manufacturing/delivery of marijuana
  
• Gregory Becher, 21, on three counts of manufacturing/delivery of marijuana
  
• Troy Frederick 20 on three counts of manufacturing/delivery of marijuana
  
• Wesley Ertmer 20 on three counts of manufacturing/delivery of marijuana
  
• Michael Sahs 21 on three counts of manufacturing/delivery of marijuana
  
• Chelsey Austin, 20, on a charge of possession of drug paraphernalia
  
• Ian Erickson, 21, on one count of possession of drug paraphernalia, one count of possession of marijuana and one count of manufacturing/delivery of marijuana
  
• Ryan Whitehead, 21, on a charge of possession of drug paraphernalia
  
• Natalie Costello-Mikecz, 21, on a charge of possession of mushrooms

McKinley applauded the work of the Richland-Iowa-Grant Drug Task Force.

"The service of the arrest warrants in the city of Platteville and on the University of Wisconsin-Platteville campus was very well planned and coordinated," McKinley said in a news release. "I believe this operation will send a strong message that the Richland-Iowa-Grant Drug Task Force is very active in pursuing drug investigations in Platteville and throughout the three county region it serves. I also hope that people dealing and/or using controlled substances get the message that this behavior will not be tolerated."

The Platteville Police Department, UW-Platteville Campus Police, Grant County Sheriff's Department, Iowa County Sheriff's Department, Dodgeville Police Department, Richland County Sheriff's Department, Richland Center Police Department and the Division of Criminal Investigations assisted with the operation.