Man Arrested for Climbing Water Tower and Shedding His Clothing

A Waukon man has been arrested after abandoning his burning vehicle, climbing a water tower, and stripping off his clothes.

At about 7:15pm Tuesday (Aug. 27) the Allamakee County Sheriff received a report of a vehicle on fire on Iron Mine Drive in Allamakee County. When authorities arrived, they found the 1999 Toyota Tacoma pickup engulfed. No one was in the truck.

The owner, 34 year old Ryan Peters of Waukon, had left the scene.

Less than 2 hours later, just after 9pm, the sheriff got a call reporting Peters had climbed onto the water tower, located at the Allamakee County Sheriff's Office, on Highway 9, about 1 mile from the pickup fire.

Officers observed Peters on the water tower, about 65 feet off the ground. He refused to come down, and then removed all of his clothing.

About an hour and 15 minutes later, law enforcement officers were able to talk Peters down from the tower.

He was taken into custody on charges of Trespass and Interference with Official Acts.
Peters is being held in the Allamakee County jail, awaiting an arraignment.

The Allamakee County Sheriff was assisted by the Waukon Police Department, Waukon Fire Department, and Veterans Memorial Hospital Ambulance Service.