Man charged after stealing a car in Vernon County and crashing it in Richland County

Early Friday morning, the Vernon County Sheriff’s Office 911 Communications Center received a report of an auto theft in the Village of Readstown. About an hour later, the Richland County Sheriff’s Office was notified that a motor vehicle crashed west of Richland Center. It was determined that both incidents were connected.  As a result 55-year-old Richard Dean Healof Readstown was arrested and transported to the Richland County Sheriff’s Office.  In addition to charges of auto theft and impaired driving, the Sheriff’s Office is also recommending bail jumping charges because the defendant is on bond for eight court cases in three counties. Both incidents remain under investigation by the Vernon and Richland County Sheriff’s Offices.