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

Date: 2/20/2026

Time: 4:30 am

Incident/Charge: Class C Felony 3^rd Degree Burglary and Aggravated Misdemeanor Operation Without Owner’s Consent

Location: 380^th Street, Decorah, Iowa

Person: Timothy Schmitt

Address: Guttenberg, Iowa

Age: 31

Incident Details: Around 9:30 am deputies responded to a burglary that took place on 380^th Street in Highland Township, in northeastern Winneshiek County. It was reported that the victim woke up around 4:30 am to find a tractor being driven out of their driveway but thought it was a neighboring farmer. Later that morning, the victim realized his 4430 John Deere tractor was missing from his machine shed. The victim also found that his zero-turn lawnmower had been taken from an outbuilding and was stuck in the snow in his driveway.

During this time, travel was not advised due to a winter storm producing heavy snow and blizzard-like conditions.

While deputies were on scene, the suspect, Timothy Schmitt, brought the tractor back to the residence. Upon realizing deputies were on scene, he abandoned the tractor about halfway down the driveway and attempted to flee from the area. Deputies were able to stop Schmitt and speak with him. Schmitt admitted that during the snowstorm he got his minivan stuck in the ditch about a mile away. Schmitt admitted that he took the zero-turn lawnmower to pull his stuck minivan out of the ditch, but got the lawnmower stuck in the driveway. He then went back to the machine shed and took the 4430 John Deere tractor to pull his minivan out of the ditch. Once Schmitt successfully had the van out of the ditch, the van remained stuck in the snow on the roadway. Schmitt then drove the tractor to a nearby friend’s house for a few hours. Upon attempting to bring the tractor back to the victim’s machine shed, Schmitt then put the tractor in a different ditch, breaking a window out of the cab. Schmitt proceeded to maneuver the tractor out of the ditch and made it about halfway down the driveway before realizing deputies were at the residence. Schmitt left the tractor and fled on foot.

Upon further investigation Schmitt also admitted to stealing Milwaukee tools from an outbuilding. Deputies were able to recover the tools that were still in his minivan stuck in the snow on the roadway.

Timothy Schmitt was placed under arrest and transported to the Winneshiek County Jail for Class C Felony 3^rd Degree Burglary and Aggravated Misdemeanor Operate Without Owner’s Consent.

This incident remains under investigation with additional charges pending.