Arrest Made In Reported Stolen Vehicle

On Sunday, August 16, 2015, Black Hawk County Sheriff's Deputies responded to an address in Gilbertville on a report of a stolen vehicle. A short time earlier Cedar Falls Police had responded to Big Woods Lake in northern Cedar Falls on a report of a vehicle believed to be in the lake. When Cedar Falls officers responded they observed damage to wooden and metal fence posts in addition to damage to the shelter house on the south side of the lake. Car parts at the scene were identical to the vehicle reported stolen in Gilbertville.

As no report of the accident was called in by a driver the Cedar Falls Fire Department was called and launched a boat as did the Black Hawk County Sheriff's Office and Black Hawk County Conservation. The vehicle was located and the Cedar Valley Underwater Search and Rescue Team was called. No one was found in the vehicle. The vehicle was removed from the lake and transported to the Sheriff's Impound.

During the investigation it was learned that the vehicle's owner had been driving the vehicle at an excessive speed and lost control of the vehicle thereby causing the property damage and the vehicle to go into the Lake.

The vehicles owner, Curtis Breitbach, 28 of Gilbertville,  was charged by deputies with Filing A False Report. He was additionally charged by Cedar Falls Police with Reckless Driving, Leaving The Scene of a Accident, Failure To Maintain Control of his vehicle and No Insurance.

Mr. Breitbach was transported to the Black Hawk County Jail.