Craig police arrested a man Tuesday for allegedly pretending to be his brother to avoid his arrest warrants, including in a Hayden case involving fentanyl distribution, according to the arrest affidavit.

Lyle Chase, 34, was arrested Tuesday and charged with five counts of criminal impersonation — a Class 6 felony — as well as four counts of false reporting of identifying information to law enforcement and one count of possessing an illegal weapon, violating bond conditions, criminal possession of a financial device, criminal possession of an identification document and possession of drug paraphernalia.

In May, Chase was arrested in Hayden on charges including unlawful distribution of fentanyl, unlawful possession of fentanyl, possession of a weapon by a previous offender and possession of a controlled substance; along with unlawfully carrying a concealed weapon, driving under the influence and speeding.

Only about a month later, Craig police was called about a man who was “tweaking” in Woodbury Park with his belongings scattered across the basketball court, according to the affidavit.

When police talked to the man, he allegedly identified himself as Joshua Chase and said he was in Craig because he had been “kicked out of his home” in Oak Creek, the document continues.

After researching the name Joshua Chase, a Craig police officer noticed the “driver’s license appeared old, but seemed to be the male” that he was speaking to. The name did not have a criminal history attached, the affidavit adds.

In early August, Craig police officers responded to a residence on Colorado Street to issue multiple city ordinance citations for public nuisance due to unsanitary living conditions on the property.

Trash and “human feces” were scattered around the property, with the same man living inside a shed without running water or electricity, states the affidavit. The man was issued a city summons and allegedly identified himself as Joshua Chase.

Later in August, officers responded to a call about a civil dispute at the same property, with the same man allegedly identifying himself as Joshua Chase.

About two weeks later, police responded to the same man scattering his belongings across a block of Victory Way and a city park in Craig. The man, who again identified himself as Joshua Chase, was issued a summons for littering, the affidavit continues.

On Tuesday, only two days after the previous incident, Craig police responded to a call about a man dumping trash on a residence’s lawn on Washington Street.

Police spoke with the reporting party, who said he knew the man and identified him as Lyle Chase, according to the affidavit.

The officer told the reporting party that he believed the man was named Joshua Chase, but the reporting party was adamant that the man was named Lyle Chase, adding that he was “a convict and had multiple warrants for his arrest,” states the document.

After researching the name Lyle Chase, police discovered the man was wanted on a felony warrant in Hayden.

Later that day, police located the man suspected of being Lyle Chase and told him that he had missed court and had a warrant for his arrest.

The man allegedly gave police an incorrect birthdate and could not recite his Social Security number.

After detaining the man, the Craig police officer contacted a member of the All Crimes Enforcement Team, which consists of officers from the Routt and Moffat county sheriff’s offices and the Steamboat, Craig and Hayden police departments, aims to “target the illegal possession and distribution of controlled substances and other crimes associated with these activities,” according to the All Crimes Enforcement Team agreement and memorandum of understanding.

The All Crimes Enforcement Team member sent a photo of Lyle Chase from his last booking in the Routt County Jail to the Craig police officer.

The officer noted that both Lyle and Joshua Chase have a large tattoo on their neck. When asked what his real name was, the man told police that he was Lyle Chase and that Joshua Chase is his brother, according to the affidavit. 

Chase also told police that his brother was not aware that he was using his identity, and that he knew that he had multiple warrants for arrest, continues the document.

At the time of his arrest, Chase was on probation and had warrants for his arrest in Hayden for the fentanyl distribution case, as well as in Adams County for possession of a controlled substance and a Craig Municipal Court warrant for public nuisance.

After searching Chase, police found a bandana with a padlock tied on the end. The affidavit states that the officer recognized it as an illegal weapon called a “homemade blackjack” through “training and experience.” Police also found a driver’s license and a debit card that did not belong to Chase.

Chase also allegedly possessed a “significant quantity of unused, clear jeweler bags” that are “used to distribute illegal drugs,” according to the affidavit. Police then found a glass pipe with “white residue on the end,” suspected to be methamphetamine.

The affidavit states that police believe Chase moved to Craig and assumed his brother’s identity to “flee prosecution.”

In 2023, Chase was convicted of possession with intent to distribute controlled substances in Wyoming, according to the document.

During a Sept. 17 bond hearing at the Moffat County Combined Courts, Chase was issued a $5,000 bond.

Moffat County Judge James Hesson also issued three protection orders in the case, protecting Joshua Chase and the people whose driver’s license and debit card belong to.

Chase’s next court date is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Wednesday.