Richland County deputies responded to multiple calls of an explosion around 6pm Saturday. Authorities say houses from the Allison Park area thru the Hub City area shook from the blast. A deputy traveling north of Richland Center reported a large plume of smoke north and west of his location. Deputies from the Sheriff’s Department, along with Wisconsin State Troopers, plus Richland Center Police and Fire searched for the location of the blast for almost an hour. Just before 7pm, authorities located the source along County Highway D-D in a wooded area on top of the ridge – where a field party was taking place. Richland County deputies made contact with 22-year-old Jacob Busser of Lodi. They discovered about 10 pounds of tannerite was set up and shot at with a firearm. The Sheriff’s Office says that detonated all 10 pounds of the material at once, causing the blast. No injuries were reported. The Sheriff’s Office says it is legal to possess tannerite and safe when used properly. The incident is being forwarded to the Richland County District Attorney’s Office for possible charges and is under investigation.
