Hayden man charged with theft after canoe chase

HAYDEN — Police arrested a man accused of stealing a bike from the shores of Hayden Lake and fleeing in two stolen canoes.

Ryan D. Irwin, 40, of Hayden, was booked into jail Wednesday morning on charges of grand theft. 

Sheriff’s deputies responded early Wednesday morning to a report that a man, later identified by police as Irwin, had stolen a bicycle from a residence near Hayden Lake. Irwin allegedly stole a canoe from a different residence, paddled to another location and stole a second canoe, according to the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office. 

Marine deputies responded via watercraft and located Irwin, who allegedly attempted to flee when police told him to stop. Police subsequently arrested Irwin. 

All property has been returned to the owners, according to the sheriff’s office.