The Allamakee County Sheriff’s Officing is looking for information on a pair of incidents where it appears someone tried to burn down a swine unit in rural Allamakee County.
On February 5th the Sheriff’s Office received a report of a suspicious item at a swine unit. Deputies recovered an incendiary item that had been placed on the building and determined it was placed there with the intent to start the unit on fire. The building unit was occupied with numerous swine. The item did not ignite the building and minimal damage was observed.
On February 18th a second call was received from the property owner of the same swine unit, reporting that remnants of a second device was located on the ground near the building. The incidents appear to be related.
The Allamakee County Sheriff’s Office is asking for the public’s assistance with this case. Anyone with information is asked to contact the Allamakee County Sheriff’s Office at 563-568-4521. A reward of up to $15,000 for information leading to the arrest and conviction of those responsible has been offered by the Coalition to Support Iowa’s Farmers to assist in the investigation of this case, and other farm livestock vandalism cases that took place in late December or early January in the eastern part of the county.
Press release from the Coalition to Support Iowa Farmers:
(West Des Moines, IA – March 20, 2023) The Coalition to Support Iowa’s Farmers
(CSIF) has announced a $10,000 reward to assist the Allamakee County sheriff’s department for
information leading to the arrest and conviction of the person or persons involved in livestock
farm vandalism cases endangering livestock in late December or early January in the eastern part
of the county.
An additional reward of $5,000 is also being offered from local support to find the person
or persons responsible for the vandalism to the barns, bringing the total reward amount to
$15,000. In these cases, the vandals attempted to start the barns on fire – while the barns were
full of pigs.
The sheriff’s department says the reward will assist investigators as they move forward
with the case. They are hopeful that someone with knowledge about what happened will step
forward and contact their office, and it is their intent to see this investigation through to a timely
and successful outcome. They would also like to remind farmers to be vigilant in monitoring
their farms as well as their neighbor’s farms. https://www.supportfarmers.com/wpcontent/uploads/2023/03/Vandalism-and-Theft-Prevention.pdf If you observe suspicious activity,
do not investigate it on your own; call the sheriff’s department immediately and report it.
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Brian Waddingham, executive director of the Coalition to Support Iowa’s Farmers, says
farmers strongly condemn animal abuse and hopes the reward will help resolve the case. “Iowa’s
livestock farmers go to great lengths to ensure the health, safety and well-being of their
livestock, and when senseless acts like this occur it becomes a concern for all of those involved
in agriculture,” he said.
The Coalition to Support Iowa’s Farmers is a non-profit organization that assists
livestock farmers who want help interpreting rules and regulations, guidance on good site
locations for barns, counsel on enhancing neighbor relations and tips on how to protect the
environment at no cost. This positive, solutions-based approach to helping livestock farmers
grow is a collaborative effort involving the Iowa Beef Industry Council, Iowa Cattlemen’s
Association, Iowa Corn Growers Association, Iowa Farm Bureau, Iowa Pork Producers
Association, Iowa Poultry Association, Iowa Soybean Association, Iowa Turkey Federation and
Midwest Dairy. Farm families wanting a helping hand can contact the Coalition at 1-800-932-
2436. For more information about the Coalition visit www.supportfarmers.com.
CSIF has offered more than $25,000 in rewards since its launch in 2004 to help solve
livestock vandalism cases throughout the state. Anyone with information in the case is
encouraged to contact the Allamakee County Sheriff’s Office.