Kidnapping Suspect Killed in Police Chase Had Long Criminal Record

Nine different mugshots since 2012 of Tyler Roberts. (Courtesy: Walker County Sheriff’s Office)

HAMILTON COUNTY, Tenn. (WDEF)- Tyler Roberts was the kidnapping suspect in a police chase that led to his death on I-75 in Ooltewah.

According to records from Hamilton and Walker Counties, Roberts had been arrested almost a dozen times between the two counties combined since 20-12.

In fact, he was due in a Hamilton County General Sessions courtroom on Monday morning for a criminal impersonation case that occurred in December 20-22.

According to an affidavit we obtained from the Hamilton County General Sessions Court, he had been pulled over for his headlights being and his vehicle’s tag came back as suspended.

The affidavit states that when an officer asked Roberts for his identity, he gave them the false name of Noah Boyd.

Eventually after searching the vehicle, officers were able to determine that Roberts had been lying about his identity, and he reportedly admitted to lying about the offense.

Additionally, he had been a fugitive in Walker County where according to their records, he had been booked into their jail nine separate times since 2012.

Among these reported arrests, in 2014 Roberts was arrested and charged with burglary, including aggravated assault and possession of a weapon during a felony.

On two separate occasions according to the Walker County Sheriff’s Office, he was arrested for simple battery against family in 2020 and simple assault against family in 2021, and these followed up a harassing phone calls charge in 2019.

The criminal impersonation case in Hamilton County from 2022 coincided with a felony violation probation charge in Walker County according to their records.

He had been out on a bond from the Hamilton County of over 40-thousand dollars after a failure to appear to a court hearing last February according to court records.