A Guttenberg man faces charges after being accused of stealing farm equipment in a series of failed attempts to free his minivan from a snow-filled ditch.
31-year-old Timothy Schmitt faces the charges including burglary and operating a vehicle without the owner’s consent in Winneshiek County.
On Friday deputies investigated the report of a missing tractor which had been taken from a farm in Highland Township
Authorities say Schmitt admitted to taking the lawnmower first to pull his minivan out of a ditch then the lawnmower got stuck in the driveway so 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. Deputies then arrived and Schmitt was arrested while trying to run away.
The incident remains under investigation with additional charges pending.