Guttenberg Man charged with stealing farm equipment in attempt to free his minivan from a snow-filled ditch

A Guttenberg man faces charges after allegedly stealing farm equipment in a series of failed attempts to free his minivan from a snow-filled ditch. KCRG reports 31-year-old Timothy Schmitt was charged with third-degree burglary and operating a vehicle without the owner’s consent, an aggravated misdemeanor. Winneshiek County deputies responded to a report of a burglary on 380th Street in Highland Township on Friday. The victim reported his 4430 John Deere tractor missing from his machine shed. He also found his zero-turn lawnmower had been taken from an outbuilding and was stuck in the snow in the driveway. Schmitt admitted to taking the lawnmower first to pull his minivan out of a ditch about a mile away. When the lawnmower got stuck in the driveway, he took the tractor to try pulling the van instead. Police say once Schmitt freed the van from the ditch, it became stuck in the snow on the roadway. He then drove the tractor to a friend’s house for a few hours before attempting to return it to the victim’s shed. On the way back, he got stuck in another ditch, breaking a cab window. Schmitt made it halfway down the driveway before realizing deputies were on scene and attempted to flee on foot. Schmitt also admitted to stealing Milwaukee-brand tools from an outbuilding, according to the sheriff’s office. Deputies recovered the tools from his minivan, which was still stuck in the snow on the roadway. The incident remains under investigation with additional charges pending.