A Bayfield man has been arrested for the fourth time in about two weeks on suspicion of stealing from mailboxes and trying to cash forged checks totaling more than $100,000.
Dale James Rogers, 32, was being held Friday night in the La Plata County jail on $250,000 bail, said Dan Bender, spokesman with the Sheriff’s Office.
Rogers was first arrested Dec. 19 by the Sheriff’s Office on suspicion of stealing mail from several locations throughout La Plata County, including areas around Bayfield, Ignacio, Durango and Hesperus, Bender said. He immediately posted bail and was released the same day.
He was picked up again by the Sheriff’s Office on Dec. 21 for failure to appear in court in connection with the mail theft case and trying to forge checks, Bender said.
He immediately posted bail, again, Bender said.
He was arrested a third time on New Year’s Day by the Aztec Police Department for trying to cash forged checks from La Plata County, Bender said.
During the arrest, Rogers tried to flee the scene and struck another vehicle in the process.
When police caught up with him, the entire floor of his car was covered with unopened mail, and methamphetamine was found inside the vehicle, Bender said.
He again posted bail.
Rogers was arrested a fourth time Friday by the Sheriff’s Office in connection with additional mailbox theft cases and on suspicion of altering checks, Bender said.
Rogers is accused of altering the checks he found in mailboxes and trying to cash them in his own name. If he found a check for $100, he might add two zeros to make it look like a check worth $10,000, Bender said.
As of Friday, Rogers had tried to cash forged checks totaling about $109,000, Bender said. One victim had a check stolen and altered to appear as if it were worth $45,000, he said.
The Sheriff’s Office was aware of at least 70 victims in La Plata County, he said.
The Sheriff’s Office wants to warn the public about Rogers in case he is able to post bail again. Rogers is described as 5 feet 7 inches tall, 160 pounds with brown hair and blue eyes.
“What we’re trying to do is alert local financial institutions and businesses to be alert when they’re cashing checks to do whatever they can to ensure it’s a legitimate transaction,” Bender said.
Rogers also is suspected of stealing packages.
Investigators have recovered pawn receipts suggesting that he has pawned some items.
Anyone who believes they may be missing mail or packages is asked to call Sheriff’s Office Investigator Jim Hendricks at 382-7018.
shane@durangoherald.com
