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A December stand-off between Ringgold County employees over a homemade bomb has led to the former county conservation executive director being charged with interference and false report.
According to charging documents written by Iowa Department of Criminal Investigations, at approximately 11 a.m. Dec. 5, 2022, A Ringgold County Deputy placed a package in his patrol vehicle containing an improvised explosive device (bomb) and contacted the State Fire Marshal who informed him to take the device to a secluded area for safety.
The deputy drove to Poe Hollow Park outside of Mount Ayr which was secluded and away from the general public. When he arrived at the park he found a padlock on the entrance gate.
The deputy contacted Kate Zimmerman, who at the time worked for Ringgold County Conservation, and asked her to unlock the gate so he could move his vehicle and the device inside the park. Zimmerman refused the deputy’s order to unlock the gate. The deputy and Zimmerman continued to converse about unlocking the gate to allow him to take the device into the park until the fire marshal arrived. Zimmerman continued to refuse entry.
Zimmerman came to the park and picked up the deputy, who got into the front passenger seat. Zimmerman told the deputy she would be pressing charges on another deputy on scene for trying to hit her with his truck. The statement was recorded on body camera. Zimmerman then completed a written statement to the Ringgold County Sheriff’s Office stating she was hit by the truck and also made the same statement in a recorded interview with DCI. No additional information was provided.
According to witnesses and Zimmerman’s initial statement at the park recorded on a body cam, Zimmerman was never struck by the vehicle.
In March, Zimmerman resigned as Ringgold County Conservation Executive Director.
A warrant for Zimmerman’s arrest was issued April 20 charging her with interference with official acts and false report to a public entity. She was taken into custody the same day and held in Adair County Jail until posting $600 cash or surety bond.