Curtiss man arrested in hit and run death

A 28-year-old Curtiss man is in custody for the hit and run death of 27-yearold Titus Kottke of Athens that occurred on Oct. 31.

On October 31,2021, at 6:08 a.m. the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office first received the report of a person laying in a pool of blood near the intersection of Elm Ave and Hamm Dr. in the town of Holway. The victim was an unidentified white male and was dead at the scene with multiple injuries. As the investigation continued Taylor County Sheriff’s Office Detectives were able to identify the victim as 27-year-old Titus Kottke of Athens. An autopsy was performed on Kottke, and his injuries were found to be consistent with being struck by a motor vehicle.

As the investigation continued Detectives were able to accurately account for Kottke’s whereabouts throughout the evening leading up to his death. As part of an exhaustive investigation a suspect was developed, and several search warrants were executed.

On December 22 the Taylor County Sheriff’s Office took 28-year-old Paul J. Schmeiser of Curtiss into custody for the death of Titus Kottke. Schmeiser is charged with Hit and Run, duty upon striking a person. According to sheriff Larry Woebbeking, Schmeiser is being cooperative with law enforcement.