Winneshiek County sheriff’s dog disarms man shooting gun at ground

A Decorah man was arrested Monday after a Winneshiek County Sheriff’s Office K-9 disarmed him by biting a gun out of his hands.

Jordan Schaller, 29, is charged with assault on person in certain occupations, intimidation with a dangerous weapon, assault while participating in a felony, and second-degree harassment.

  Buy Photo

According to criminal complaints, sheriff’s deputies went to 2442 Ranch Rd. in Decorah on Monday for a welfare check after a friend of Schaller’s reported he had made some suicidal comments.

A deputy talked to Schaller’s dad, who said his son wasn’t home, but Schaller arrived shortly after that, armed with a shot gun.

Schaller shot the gun several times into the ground despite commands to drop the gun. Additional deputies arrived, including canine handler Deputy Logan Hopp and his K-9, Drago. Hopp released Drago, who bit the gun out of Schaller’s hand and brought it back to the deputies.

Schaller was arrested and booked into the Winneshiek County Jail. During booking, he reportedly threatened to beat up one of the deputies who was involved in his arrest, according to a complaint.

He had his first appearance in court Tuesday and is being held on a cash-only $21,500 bond.

Drago the K-9 was unharmed in the skirmish. He is a 5-year-old German shepherd who has been with the sheriff’s office since 2023 and is trained in drug detection, tracking and apprehension, according to the sheriff’s office.

Comments: (319) 398-8328; emily.andersen@thegazette.com