Marysville officer killed in shooting while serving warrant in drug trafficking investigation
OLIVEHURST — A Northern California police officer was shot and killed while serving a search warrant in a transnational drug trafficking investigation Wednesday morning, authorities said.
At around 7:50 a.m., law enforcement officers from several area agencies were on Kestrel Court in the Yuba County town of Olivehurst executing a search warrant. That warrant was one of 20 that were served across Yuba, Sutter, Tehama and Butte counties on Wednesday as part of a years-long investigation into a transnational drug trafficking operation, Yuba County District Attorney Clint Curry said in a press conference.
Yuba County Sheriff Wendell Anderson said gunfire was exchanged upon entering the home during the operation on Kestral Court.
One of the members of the SWAT team was wounded and later died at Adventist Health and Rideout in Marysville. He has since been identified as Officer Osmar Rodarte, 27.
Marysville Police Chief Christian Sachs said Rodarte was a U.S. Army veteran and a two-year veteran of the Marysville Police Department.
The sheriff's office said the suspect was shot in the exchange of gunfire. The Yuba County Sheriff's Office has since identified him as 61-year-old Rick David Oliver of Olivehurst. He was declared dead inside his residence.
One other person was detained at the scene and taken into questioning, but that person has been released, Anderson said.
The Yuba County Sheriff's Office said there is no ongoing threat to the public.
The identification of the suspect has not been released. Authorities said they should be able to release more information on Thursday.
"Our hearts and our prayers are with this young officer's family and our local law enforcement family," California Assemblymember James Gallagher said in a post on X.
The Yuba-Sutter Officer-Involved Shooting team will be conducting the investigation on Kestrel Court. Curry said he would release more information regarding the transnational drug trafficking investigation later in the week.
The Marysville Police Department said a process will be held at 9:30 a.m. Thursday from the Lakeside Chapel at 830 D St. to Placer County. The community is invited to line the sidewalks and pay their respects.
"Our department is hurting, and our community is mourning the loss of a dedicated officer who served with honor, integrity, and unwavering commitment to protecting the people of Marysville," Marysville police said in a statement. "Officer Rodarte was more than a colleague. He was a friend, a father, an army veteran and a true hero."
The Sacramento Police Department shared on social media that Rodarte was a graduate of its police academy.
This marks the first Marysville police officer to die in the line of duty in more than 100 years.
