ESTHERVILLE — An Iowa man wearing only shorts was arrested after deputies say he entered multiple vehicles at Fort Defiance State Park, ran into a wooded area and triggered a search involving officers, drones and K-9s.
The Emmet County Sheriff’s Office said deputies received a report at 8:52 a.m. on May 25, 2026, that a male wearing only shorts had entered vehicles that did not belong to him and was running around the campground at Fort Defiance State Park.
When deputies arrived, they determined the man had entered at least three unoccupied vehicles. Authorities said a brief disturbance also took place with one of the vehicle owners who was camping.
Deputies learned the suspect had fled on foot into a wooded area of the park before law enforcement arrived.
As Emmet County deputies and Estherville police began searching the large area, additional assistance was requested. Authorities set up a perimeter while personnel searched on foot, with help from drones and K-9s.
At about 10:35 a.m., authorities received additional information about a male wearing only shorts who had been lying in a ditch and had asked the reporting party for a ride. That information helped law enforcement tighten the search area inside the park.
During the search, authorities also received a photo of the suspect from a neighboring property owner.
At 11:28 a.m., the man approached law enforcement and was taken into custody without incident.
Dalton Scott Burdorf, born September 29, 1997, was arrested and booked into the Emmet County Jail.
Burdorf (pictured at top) was charged with three counts of third-degree burglary, aggravated misdemeanors; trespass, a simple misdemeanor; providing false identification information, a simple misdemeanor; and an Emmet County arrest warrant for failure to appear on original charges of two counts of possession of a controlled substance.
The sheriff’s office reminded the public to keep buildings, homes and vehicles locked.
The Emmet County Sheriff’s Office thanked the public for cooperation and information during the investigation. Agencies assisting included the Emmet County Communication Center, Emmet County Conservation, Emmet County Emergency Management, Estherville Police Department, Iowa State Patrol, Iowa Department of Natural Resources and the Hancock County Sheriff’s Office.
A criminal charge is merely an accusation. Burdorf is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty in court.