Tulsa Police Capture Suspects On Roof Of Sandburg Elementary School

Tulsa Police captured three adults and a juvenile inside an empty elementary school early Tuesday morning. Officers had to take to the roof of Sandburg Elementary School to capture the men, ages 17 to 20.

The adult males have been identified as Joshua Tuell, 20; Samuel Chapman, 18, and Scott Taylor, 18.

TPD received several reports of burglar alarms sounding at the school at about 1:30 a.m., according to Corporal Brett Bilyeu. The alarms continued to trip after authorities arrived on scene at 3rd Street and 189th East Avenue.

A K-9 officer searched the inside of the building.

"The officer did hear some people running, what sounded like people running above him on the ceiling," Bilyeu said. "The officer then contacted members of the Tulsa Fire Department who allowed us to borrow their ladder."

Tulsa Fire Department Ladder 30 helped police gain access to the roof. One police officer shimmied on top of the roof and saw the suspects, Bilyeu said.

Officers found damage inside the ransacked building, and one of the men had some stolen property, according to Bilyeu.

The corporal said he didn't know if the vandalism, which included broken clocks and windows, was done overnight Tuesday or last weekend when police responded to similar alarms but made no arrests.

"It kind of surprised us at the beginning because this school has been shut down," Bilyeu said. "There's really nothing in there worthwhile taking."

The suspects apparently entered the building through a vent after climbing up on the roof.