07/25/2025
*Clayton County Sheriff’s Office Media Release*
NOTICE: A criminal charge is merely an accusation; defendants are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
On July 24th, 2025, at approximately 6:30 AM the Clayton County Sheriff’s Office and Garnavillo Police Department took a report of a vehicle stolen from a business in Garnavillo. A multi-agency investigation determined that the vehicle stolen from Garnavillo had been recovered in Buchanan County following a motor vehicle crash. The Buchanan County Sheriff’s Office then took a report of a second stolen vehicle from the area of the crash. That vehicle was later recovered in Clayton County near Millville. As a result, Henry Berns (32) of Garnavillo was arrested and charged with multiple crimes. Berns was charged by the Clayton County Sheriff’s Office with theft in the 2nd degree (possession of stolen property), interference with official acts, and driving while license suspended. Berns was charged by the Garnavillo Police Department with theft in the 1st degree and three counts of driving while license suspended. Additional charges are pending in Buchanan County. The Clayton County Sheriff’s Office and Garnavillo Police Department were assisted in the investigation by the Buchanan County Sheriff’s Office, Dubuque Police Department, Dubuque County Sheriff’s Office, and Iowa State Patrol.
Submitted for release by: Sheriff Brent W. Ostrander