On June 1st, 2026, the Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office responded to a theft call at a business in Buena Vista, CO. The owner of the business reported a large amount of scrap metal that had been stolen. It was further reported that the suspect had been captured on security camera at the business and had also attempted to break into the business on other occasions.
The investigating deputy, Dylan Baker, immediately put out a BOLO (Be On Look Out) including the surveillance photos of the suspect, to local law enforcement asking for their assistance locating and identifying the suspect. The suspect was unknown to law enforcement at the time.
A few hours later the suspect was located by Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office Patrol Commander Jesse Cortese at a gas station in Buena Vista. A team of deputies and officers were assembled, and the suspect was taken into custody. The suspect was identified as Blake Simmonds, aged 32 from Broomfield, CO.
During the investigation Simmonds was suspected of being under the influence of drugs. Also found in his possession were approximately 3.69 grams of suspected methamphetamine, 1.8 grams of suspected heroin, a suspected LSD tab and 32.44 grams of suspected methadone in a prescription bottle not subscribed to Simmonds.
Simmonds was also wanted out of Boulder, CO on a $200,000.00 bond warrant for possession of controlled substances, burglary and criminal mischief over $1,000,000.00.
Simmonds was transported to the Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office Detention Center where he was held on a $2,000.00 bond for Driving Under the Influence of Drugs/ Alcohol (class 1 traffic misdemeanor), Possession of an Open Alcohol Container in a Motor Vehicle (class A traffic infraction), Possession of an Open Marijuana Container in a Motor Vehicle (class A traffic infraction), Possession of Drug Paraphernalia (drug petty offense), Two Counts of Possession of Less Than 4 Grams of a Schedule One or Two Controlled Substance (class 1 drug misdemeanors) and Possession of a Class 1 or 2 Controlled Substance (more than 4 grams/ class 4 drug felony). Simmonds is also being held on the $200,000.00 bond warrant for a total of $202,000.00 bond.
On June 2nd, 2026, the Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office Investigations Unit developed enough probable cause to get a search warrant to search property near Johnson’s Village (Chaffee County/ base of Trout Creek Pass) where Simmonds had allegedly been staying. During the search, Detectives recovered all the stolen property from the business who had made the report the day before.
Additional charges are anticipated soon. Simmonds is presumed innocent until/unless proven guilty in a court of law.
-Sheriff Andy Rohrich
