Deputy exposed to methamphetamine smoke during arrest
The deputy was treated at Vernon Health, in Viroqua, and later released.
Jun 7, 2025, 7:23 AM CST
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VERNON COUNTY, Wis (WRCO / WRCE) – Vernon County Sheriff Roy Torgerson reports on Thursday evening (June 5) that one of their deputies, while in the process of executing an arrest warrant in the town of Wheatland, was exposed to second-hand methamphetamine smoke.
The deputy was treated at Vernon Health, in Viroqua, and later released. Unrelated to the arrest warrant involving a different individual, Kyle John Backlund, age 35 of Viroqua was arrested. He was booked for Possession of Methamphetamine and Possession of Drug Paraphernalia. Kyle Backlund was also booked for Felony Bail Jumping stemming from a May 29 drug-related arrest by the
Viroqua Police Department.
In that case a $1,000.00 Signature Bond was ordered on May 30. At the time, Backlund was also being held by the Wisconsin Department of Corrections for a probation violation. He was released from custody Wednesday (June 4) thirty-three hours before the deputy was exposed to the methamphetamine use.
A bail hearing was scheduled yesterday afternoon (Friday), at 2:00, in Vernon County Circuit Court. Formal charges will be sought through Vernon County District Attorney Angela Palmer-Fisher.
Adam Hess has been involved in radio broadcasting since 1990, with many of those years spent on the air at WRCO FM in Richland Center. Currently, Adam hosts the Weekend Wake-up and Prime Mover Saturdays on WRCO FM, jumps in and helps out with news duties, handles Social Media duties for WRCO and WRCE, and is the Director of Technology at a Southwest Wisconsin School District. Reach him at adam.hess@civicmedia.us.
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