No charges filed against Roseville police officer who fatally shot man

ROSEVILLE — Following an investigation into an officer-involved shooting that left a Roseville man dead in April, no charges will be filed.

In a press release sent May 18, The Macomb County Sheriff’s Office states that its investigation into the shooting has been completed and it found no evidence that substantiated any criminal charges against Roseville Police Officer Chad Lee.

On the morning of April 26, Roseville police responded to a traffic crash involving a Chevrolet Silverado and a tractor-trailer on Groesbeck Highway, just south of 12 Mile Road. When police arrived, they found the driver of the Silverado, who was identified as Frank Robles, 57, of Roseville, in the roadway holding a knife. His wrists had been cut, the department said.

Officers ordered him to drop the knife as he began advancing toward the officers, the department said. He allegedly refused to comply with additional commands from the officers.

In the body camera footage of the incident, which was shown during an April 27 press conference, Robles can be seen advancing toward Lee, who repeatedly told Robles to drop the knife. When Robles does not drop the knife, Lee shoots him, dropping him to the ground, according to the video. When Robles attempts to get up while still possessing the knife, Lee fires more shots. In all, he fired nine shots, Macomb County Sheriff Anthony Wickersham said.

Robles was transported to a local hospital, where he was pronounced dead, according to the Sheriff’s Office. A second Roseville police officer — who has not been identified — was on the scene with Lee; however, she did not fire any shots.

After the shooting, the Sheriff’s Office was contacted to investigate. Once the investigation was complete, investigators met with the Major Crimes Unit of the Macomb County Prosecutor’s Office and reviewed the investigation in its entirety, the department said in the May 18 press release.

“After this review, a consistent opinion was reached that no criminal charges are warranted for Officer Chad Lee,” the Sheriff’s Office stated. “The Macomb County Sheriff’s Office investigation is closed at this time.”

Roseville Police Chief Ryan Monroe said both officers were cleared to return to work.