April 27, 2025
Early yesterday afternoon, the Tama County Sheriff’s Office was made aware of a gentleman from Waterloo who was in crisis and had made suicidal comments. His vehicle was found near S Avenue and Highway V18, along a trail he’s known to hunt. It was clear he had taken steps to make himself hard to find.
Starting around 2:00 p.m., several members of the Tama County Sheriff’s Office and the Tama Police Department began searching the area, which was a large, thick, and rough piece of ground. We were also lucky to have the help of Vining Fire, Elberon Fire, Elberon Ambulance, Clutier First Responders, and a number of local citizens who showed up with UTVs to help cover more ground.
We had our Sheriff’s Office drone up in the air, along with help from the Meskwaki Nation Police Department’s drone, flying through the afternoon and up until nightfall. The Tama Police Department’s K9 Unit was also a big part of the effort.
After several hours of searching, we found no sign of the gentleman in the immediate area. Based on interviews and information gathered by our deputies and officers, we believed he had left the area on foot. We reached out to the authorities where he lives to pass along what we found.
This morning, at approximately around 11:00, we got word that he had made it back to his residence in Waterloo. He was taken to the hospital to be evaluated.
I’m extremely proud of how everyone came together. It was a tough situation with difficult terrain, but nobody hesitated to jump in and help. Tama County is lucky to have people like this.
We were assisted by the Tama Police Department, Tama Police Department K9 Unit, Vining Fire Department, Elberon Fire Department, Elberon Ambulance, Clutier First Responders, Toledo Fire Department, Iowa State Patrol, and the Meskwaki Nation Police Department. A huge thank you to everyone who stepped up and helped.
— Sheriff Casey Schmidt
Tama County Sheriff’s Office
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It is important to be aware of fraudulent phishing scams because they can put your personal information and assets at risk. By familiarizing yourself with the common tactics used by scammers, you can protect yourself and your community. Please take the time to read this information on phishing scams and encourage others to learn more to avoid being a victim to these scammers.
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