Last week’s snowstorm has led to theft charges against a northeast Iowa man.
The Winneshiek County Sheriff’s Office (WCSO) responded to a burglary about 15 miles northeast of Decorah in Highland Township. WCSO said the victim woke up around 4:30 am Friday (02.20) to find a tractor being driven out of the driveway, but he initially believed it was just a neighboring farmer.
Later that morning, the victim realized his 4430 John Deere tractor was missing and also found a zero-turn lawnmower had been taken from an outbuilding and was stuck in the snow in his driveway. While deputies were on scene, the suspect, 31-year-old Timothy Schmitt of Guttenberg, brought the tractor back to the residence. However, when he saw law enforcement, he abandoned the tractor and attempted to flee on foot.
After deputies stopped Schmitt, he allegedly admitted to taking the lawnmower because his minivan got stuck about a mile away during the snowstorm that dumped upwards of 15 inches in Winneshiek County. Schmitt hoped to pull the van out of the ditch with the lawnmower, but after he got the lawnmower stuck, he took the tractor.
WCSO said Schmitt got the van out of the ditch with the tractor, but it remained stuck on the road with all the snow. He then decided to drive the tractor to a nearby friend’s house for a few hours. When Schmitt attempted to bring the tractor back to the victim’s residence, he put it in a different ditch.
Upon further investigation, WCSO said Schmitt also admitted to stealing tools from an outbuilding, with the tools recovered from his minivan.
Schmitt was arrested on charges of third-degree burglary, a Class D felony, and operating a vehicle without owner’s consent, an aggravated misdemeanor, with additional charges pending.
