U.S. Marshals attempted to serve a warrant on Librao (Lee) Rosales Friday morning, August 30th, 2019, in the 600 block of North Ross St. Rosales refused to comply and barricaded himself in the residence. Rosales, a wanted fugitive who was featured on KOTV’s “Most Wanted Monday,” was being sought for a violation of probation on a methamphetamine charge. Four other occupants of the house were released without incident.
The Sapulpa Times spoke with Jose Rosales, Librao’s father, who was at the scene. The senior Rosales said he could not understand why the S.W.A.T. team was called in because he only knew of two DUIs and a failure to appear in court.
The Sapulpa S.W.A.T. along with members of law enforcement from, Bixby, Sand Springs, and Sapulpa, had the neighborhood cordoned off. After several hours of fruitless negotiations, the decision was made to use force.
The Sapulpa Times was on the scene and witnessed the operation take place. Two Firetrucks rolled up to the scene because there had been an earlier report of smoke coming from the house in which the armed fugitive was barricaded.
Snipers then went into the alley behind the house. Shortly thereafter, tear gas was deployed and traces coming downwind stung the eyes of the news crews and bystanders. A K-9 officer was brought to the scene, and within minutes, a loud explosion, that sounded like a mortar shell, was heard. Officers had fired a flashbang cannister into the house. With the aid of the K-9 officer, tactical officers had Rosales in custody. He was handcuffed and accompanied by tactical officers, to a waiting vehicle.
