Arson suspect’s brother refused to contact police

By JARED STRONG
j.strong@carrollspaper.com

A brother of the Pizza Ranch owner accused of coordinating the January arson of his restaurant in Jefferson has refused to speak to investigators about the fire, court records show.

A police sergeant obtained the cellphone records of Andrew Schultz, 52, of Boone, that showed a suspicious text message exchange between the brothers and three cellphone calls that Schultz made to different phone numbers around the time of the arson.

“Several attempts were made to contact Andrew by phone, but he would not return the calls,” according to a search warrant to obtain information about the three phone numbers. “I attempted to speak with him at his residence in Boone, Iowa, as well but was told by his mother that he was not there. Even after asking her to have him contact me, he still did not.”

Schultz’s brother Robert, 53, of Ankeny, faces charges of arson, criminal mischief and insurance fraud for the fire at Robert’s restaurant. The arson charge is punishable by up to 25 years in prison.

Investigators alleged he helped torch the restaurant to get insurance money because he was deeply in debt.

Robert Schultz plans an alibi defense, according to court records, because he was at his Ankeny home at the time the fire started just after midnight on Jan. 27.

Prosecutors have not alleged that Robert Schultz was in Jefferson when the fire began. But they obtained a suspicious text-message conversation between the brothers in the hours before the fire in which Andrew Schultz says: “I know it didn’t work last time I will try to make sure it happens this time.”

About an hour after the fire, he messaged: “Go.”

The fire was reported about 12:06 a.m.

In the hour that preceded the fire, Andrew Schultz called two cellphone numbers out of Boone and Cedar Rapids, court records show. After the fire, about 1:45 a.m., he called an Ames landline while he was in Johnston.

It’s unclear from court records where Andrew Schultz was when he made the two calls before the fire.

“Based on my training and experience, it is common for crimes to be ‘subcontracted’ and a third party commits the crime,” an officer wrote in a July request for the phone data.

It’s unclear what information the officer gleaned from the data request.

Andrew Schultz has not been charged with a crime for the incident.

Court records from a recent divorce show he must pay his ex-wife $650 each month. The day of the restaurant fire, he was ordered by a judge to pay more than $2,700 to Nebraska Furniture Mart for outstanding debt he had at the Omaha store.

Robert Schultz’s trial is set for Nov. 1.