24-04-2025
Chaffee County: Man left hotel after tear gas used
(CHAFFEE COUNTY, Colo.) — The Chaffee County Sheriff's Office (CCSO) said a deputy on routine patrol located a wanted suspect, causing a brief chase before the suspect was located days later at a hotel, leading to a tactical team response.
According to CCSO, on Saturday, April 19, at around 5:30 p.m., a deputy was performing routine patrol on Highway 24 east of Johnson's Village when he got a safety notification from a stationary license plate reader in the Flock camera system. The system informed the deputy that the owner of a vehicle with multiple warrants for his arrest was seen heading eastbound on Trout Creek Pass.
License plate readers help law enforcement tackle crime
The deputy was able to find the car on Trout Creek Pass and tried to initiate a traffic stop, however, the driver of the car refused to stop, and the deputy pursued the vehicle towards Park County for several minutes. However, due to the driver's erratic and dangerous driving, the pursuit was called off after the deputy got a good look at the vehicle.
The driver of the vehicle was identified as 43-year-old Rowland Miller from Denver, the same person who was allegedly wanted for the warrants. Over the next several days, CCSO investigations and the patrol division worked with the U.S. Marshal's Office to find Miller.
On Wednesday, April 24, the team was able to find Miller at a hotel in the Johnson's Village area on Highway 24. CCSO said deputies tried to make contact with Miller in his hotel room, but he refused to exit.
The Chaffee County Combined Tactical Team was called to assist with Miller's arrest. According to CCSO, tear gas was deployed, and Miller eventually left the building and surrendered without further incident.
Miller is being held in the Chaffee County Jail on several bonds:
No bond felony parole violation fugitive of justice warrant
$1,000 bond misdemeanor warrant out of Chaffee County
$500 bond traffic offense warrant out of Boulder
$5,000 bond warrant out of Chaffee County for vehicular eluding and reckless driving.
'Our investigations, patrol, and tactical teams remained determined to take Miller into custody. Although they had to let him go a few days earlier to ensure no innocent motorists were injured, they did not give up. Our team was unwavering in their pursuit to ensure that Miller was held accountable for his actions and did so, because of their exceptional training, without loss of life or injury,' said Sheriff Andy Rohrich.
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