Tyler Boebert, the 18-year-old son of Republican Rep. Lauren Boebert of Colorado, was arrested on Tuesday in connection with a series of vehicle break-ins and property thefts in Rifle, Colorado. He is accused of stealing credit cards and identification documents from several victims and using them for fraudulent purchases.
Arrested on five felony counts and 15 other offenses
According to the Rifle Police Department, Tyler Boebert was arrested at around 2:30 p.m. on Tuesday and faces five felony counts, including four counts of criminal possession of identification documents and one count of conspiracy to commit a felony. He also faces over 15 additional misdemeanor and petty offenses, such as criminal trespass, identity theft, and contributing to the delinquency of a minor.
The police said they would not release any further information on the ongoing investigation. Tyler Boebert was released from the Garfield County Jail on Wednesday, according to county records. No bond information was listed.
Part of a string of vehicle trespass and property thefts
The arrest of Tyler Boebert was related to a “recent string of vehicle trespass and property thefts” in Rifle, a town of about 10,000 people where Rep. Lauren Boebert owns a restaurant called Shooters Grill. The police did not specify how many vehicles or victims were involved in the alleged crimes, or when they occurred.
However, according to the Colorado Bureau of Investigation records, Tyler Boebert was breaking into vehicles to steal credit cards and other identification documents, such as driver’s licenses and passports. He then allegedly used the stolen cards to make purchases at various locations, including a gas station, a grocery store, and a pizza place.
One of the alleged victims of Tyler Boebert’s crime was identified by KJCT8 News as Michaela Turner, a local resident who said she had her purse stolen from her car on Feb. 14. She said she noticed fraudulent charges on her bank account the next day, totaling over $1,000. She also said she had to cancel her credit cards and replace her driver’s license and passport.
Rep. Lauren Boebert expresses support for her son
Rep. Lauren Boebert, who was elected to Congress in 2020 as a staunch supporter of former President Donald Trump and a vocal critic of President Joe Biden, issued a statement in support of her son, one of four.
“I love my son Tyler, who has been through some very difficult, public challenges for a young man and the subject of attention that he didn’t ask for,” the statement said.
Rep. Lauren Boebert did not address the specific charges against her son, or whether she was aware of his alleged involvement in the thefts. Her office and campaign did not respond to requests for comment from various media outlets.
Latest in a series of run-ins with the law for the Boebert family
Tyler Boebert’s arrest is the latest in a series of run-ins with the law for the Boebert family, which has been making headlines in recent months for various incidents.
In June 2023, Rep. Lauren Boebert announced that she was a grandmother at 36, after Tyler Boebert and his girlfriend gave birth to their first son. Tyler Boebert had previously been involved in a car accident in 2022, when he flipped his father’s SUV into a creek bed, injuring his friend. He was given a careless driving ticket, which was later reduced to a defective vehicle ticket, after he completed a driver awareness program.
In January 2024, Rep. Lauren Boebert’s ex-husband, Jayson Boebert, was arrested on domestic violence charges, after he allegedly attacked Tyler Boebert and grabbed a rifle, following a 911 call from the teen. Jayson Boebert was also accused of threatening to harm himself and his ex-wife, who obtained a restraining order against him.
That incident happened just three days after a public dispute between Rep. Lauren Boebert and Jayson Boebert at a restaurant in Silt, Colorado, where Jayson Boebert claimed that his ex-wife punched him in the face. He later recanted his statement, and the police dropped the investigation against Rep. Lauren Boebert due to lack of evidence. Jayson Boebert was arrested for obstruction, trespassing, and disorderly conduct, after he refused to leave the restaurant and was belligerent toward the police and patrons.
Rep. Lauren Boebert has cited her personal troubles as one of the reasons for her decision to switch districts and run for re-election in Colorado’s 4th Congressional District, instead of her current 3rd District. She recently moved to Windsor, a town in the 4th District, but it is unclear which of her sons, if any, joined her.