The Regional Joint Operations Unit members of the Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office and Salida Police Department concluded a lengthy drug distribution investigation on August 29th, 2025. As a result of the investigation two arrest warrants were acquired for two Salida residents: Joshua Aaron Vaupel, age 19, and Florentino “Jose” Sillas-Rosales, age 33. The team also secured a search warrant, as part of the investigation, for a Salida residence on the same date that led to an additional arrest of a Salida resident: Kaysie Michelle Brown, age 19. Found in the search of the residence was 9.62 grams of suspected cocaine, 22.89 grams of suspected methamphetamine and 14 fentanyl pills.
Vaupel was charged with Unlawful Distribution of Methamphetamine, a class 3 drug felony. Vaupel was also charged with Possession of Fentanyl (less than 4 grams), a class 1 drug misdemeanor as he was in possession of fentanyl at the time of his arrest. Vaupel was held on a $10,000.00 cash only bond in the Chaffee County Jail.
Sillas-Rosales was charged with Unlawful Distribution of Methamphetamine, a class 3 drug felony and Possession of Methamphetamine, a class 1 drug misdemeanor. Sillas-Rosales was held on a $10,000.00 cash only bond in the Chaffee County Jail. At the time of his arrest, Sillas-Rosales was out on bond for different drug charges.
Brown was charged with Unlawful Distribution of Methamphetamine, Cocaine, and Fentanyl, a class 2 drug felony, Brown was held in the Chaffee County Jail on a $5,000.00 cash/ surety bond.
“Our investigations teams with the Salida Police Department, Chaffee County Sheriff’s Office and the Buena Vista Police Department formed the Regional Joint Operations Unit to proactively work on complex investigations together. The team will be a critical tool used to combat an ever-growing drug problem in our community. Our local agencies are so fortunate that we work well together pushing forth the team effort mentality”. -Sheriff Andy Rohrich
