South Lake Tahoe Police Department

The following is a recap of activity the South Lake Tahoe Police Department responded to 432 calls between June 1 and June 13, 2016.

Calls Resulting in Arrests:

6/1
Disturbance in the 2400 block of Lake Tahoe Blvd
Burglary in the 3600 block of Forest Ave
Resisting at Glenwood and Fairway
Trespassing in the 3400 block of Lake Tahoe Blvd

6/2
Petty Theft in the 3600 block of Lake Tahoe Blvd
Drunk in Public in the 1000 block of Emerald Bay Rd

6/3
Drug Offense in the 800 block of Emerald Bay Rd

The Lake Tahoe Visitors Authority would like to thank the volunteers, businesses, spectators, sponsors, and partners who helped to make the 2016 AMGEN Tour of California a success for our community. We are grateful for your support and generosity!

The 3rd annual Wildfire Safety Expo will be held in South Lake Tahoe on Saturday, June 11 from noon to 3:00 p.m. at the TJ Maxx parking lot at the "Y" where Highways 50 and 89 meet.

On September 12, 2001, advertising luminary Allen Kay coined the phrase, “If you see something, say something.”[1] In the wake of horrific events the day before, Kay recognized that no matter how well trained, equipped and staffed, law enforcement can’t do it alone. Within a relatively short period of time, the slogan was plastered on New York City transit vehicles. Over time, the Law Enforcement and Homeland Security slogan has become so well known it has been described as the equivalent of Nike’s “Just do it” advertisement.[2]

The fifth suspect in the January 30, 2016 murder of an Amador County man at the Beverly Lodge in South Lake Tahoe has been arrested. 26-year-old Dion Jermaine Vacarro, a former resident of Solano County, Calif., was arrested in Oklahoma City on suspicion of the murder on Dennis Wright, Jr. after a warrant was issued for his arrest.

The following is a recap of activity the South Lake Tahoe Police Department responded to 160 calls between May 10 and May 15, 2016.

Calls Resulting in Arrests:

5/10
Warrant in the 1400 block of Melba Dr
Drug Offense in the 1700 block of Lake Tahoe Blvd
Juvenile Problem in the 1000 block of Tata Lane
Drug Offense in the 900 block of Modesto
Unlicensed driver in the 3400 block of Lake Tahoe Blvd
Violation of Court Order in the 4100 block of Manzanita Dr
Trespassing in the 1400 block of Cedar Ave

5/11

In conjunction with Memorial Day and the National Peace Officer’s Memorial Week, the South Lake Tahoe Police Department will hold its annual award ceremony on Thursday, May 26th, at 3:00 p.m. in the department's plaza at 1352 Johnson Blvd.

The public and City family are invited to attend.

The employees and volunteers receiving recognition at this year’s award ceremony are as follows:

Jill and Gerry Carter – Citizen Award of Merit
ESO Dan Brown – Distinguished Service
Lead ESO Amy Poole – Distinguished Service
Dispatcher Melissa Dube– Distinguished service

A community group effort led by the Women of the Moose (WOTM) Chapter 408 in South Lake Tahoe is helping the homeless youth of the community

WOTM help out with the kids who are part of the Lake Tahoe Unified School District's McKinney Vento program. LTUSD receives an annual allocation of about $1,000 to purchase school supplies and help with bus transportation for its approximately 250 homeless students.

Two South Lake Tahoe men were stabbed on Wednesday, May 4, 2016 on the bike path behind Meek's Lumber by two unknown assailants who have not yet been apprehended.

Four people were cited for selling alcohol to minors on April 29 during a compliance sting by the South Lake Tahoe Police Department.

During the operation, minors under the direct supervision of officers, attempted to purchase alcohol from ten retail licensees in the city limits.

40 percent of those businesses sold alcohol to the teen decoys. Clerks at Safeway Gas, Chevron Gas, Whiskey Dicks and Chevy's Restaurant were all cited and face a minimum fine of $250, and/or 24 to 32 hours of community service for a first violation.

What does a police officer do after they retire?

Hunt for Bigfoot, of course.

That is what South Lake Tahoe Police Officer Donna Kingman said she'll be doing after hanging up her shield after 29 years of working in the community. Her official last day is April 30, but Thursday was her last shift working in uniform.

Of course, she won't be hunting for Bigfoot in cold, shaded areas as she'll be seeking sun and a life of being "footloose and fancy free."

Domenic Seanlee Randolph, a suspect in the murder of Dennis Wright, Jr. at a South Lake Tahoe motel, was arrested Tuesday in Texas.

The 22-year-old-Randolph is the third suspect arrested for the January 30, 2016 shooting death of Wright, who allegedly brought 100 pounds of marijuana to the Beverly Lodge to sell. He was shot and killed in the motel's parking lot during an apparent robbery attempt.

Just as people are seeing some extra cash in their pocket with tax returns being processed, scams are on the rise in South Lake Tahoe, and elsewhere, trying to cash in on the extra dough.

In South Lake Tahoe last week, a woman who was selling furniture was caught up in a scam that ended up costing her $1,500, the same price she was selling the items for. According to El Dorado County Sheriff's Sgt. Michael Seligsohn, scams are getting more sophisticated such as the vacation rental scams, but the sold furniture scam this victim fell for is very common.

Rafael Corea, a 61 year old former restaurant worker, has failed to register as a sex offender and the South Lake Tahoe Police Department would like to find him.

In 1995, Corea was convicted for lew and lascivious acts with a minor aged 14 or 15. As part of his conviction he much register as a sexual offender for the rest of his life, and he failed to do so in 2015 as required.

SLTPD detectives discovered Corea has moved out of his former residence in South Lake Tahoe and his current whereabouts are unknown, and they'd like the public's help in locating him.

The following is a recap of activity the South Lake Tahoe Police Department responded to 134 calls between March 23 and March 28, 2016.

Calls Resulting in Arrests:

3/23
2:49 a.m.- Liquor Laws in 3300 block of Lake Tahoe Blvd - Officer saw two minors with bikes parked, sitting drinking beers. They said a man went into the Safeway Gas Station and bought it for them. Man providing beer was found, arrested for providing alcohol to a minor, and kids arrested for minors with alcohol.
12:07 p.m. - Battery in 1000 lock of Heavenly Village Way

The following is a recap of activity the South Lake Tahoe Police Department responded to 168 calls between March 16 and March 22, 2016.

Calls Resulting in Arrests:

3/16
Warrant at Lake Tahoe Blvd & Harrison Ave
Drunk in Public in the 3700 block of Forest

3/17
Warrant in the 3400 block of Lake Tahoe Blvd
DUI in the 3300 block of Pine Ave
DUI in the 4000 block of Lake Tahoe Blvd
The following are a result of the DUI Checkpoint:
Unlicensed driver at Fairway and Lake Tahoe Blvd

The California and Nevada Highway Patrol, South Lake Tahoe Police Department and the Douglas County Sheriff's Office are reminding everyone who celebrates St. Patrick’s Day that no one is immune from the consequences of drunk driving.

Drunk driving is a top problem for both states, and local law enforcement will be joining forces to boost enforcement efforts and initiating a impaired driving mobilization period from March 17 to March 31, 2016.

An officer from the South Lake Tahoe Police Department attempted to pull over a SUV Tuesday morning near the intersection of Carson Avenue and Lake Tahoe Blvd for a traffic violation. The driver of the vehicle, which was a black 2005 GMC Envoy, failed to pull over and led officers on a high speed chase eastbound on Lake Tahoe Blvd.

A witness said the cars looked to be going 80 mph. When they got to the area of Ski Run, officers lost site of the vehicle and its two occupants when they pulled back due to safety concerns, and the pursuit was terminated.

With St. Patrick's Day being one of the biggest holidays centered around partying, the South Lake Tahoe Police Department is having a DUI Checkpoint as well as extra patrols on the roads to help lower deaths and injuries.

The checkpoint will be held from 7:00 p.m. to 2:00 a.m. on St. Patrick's Day, March 17. The location has not been disclosed.

2:45 p.m. 2/28/16 update:

Two different high speed chases through the Carson Valley and up Kingsbury Grade resulted in the arrest of two men and two women on Saturday, February 27, 2017.

At 3:10 p.m., a trooper from the Nevada Highway Patrol spotted a silver Mercedes-Benz with California plates going down U.S. 50 (Spooner Summit) at 85 mph. The driver failed to pull over for the trooper, instead turning South on Highway 395 towards Minden, Nev., at speeds in excess of 100 mph.

The following is a recap of activity the South Lake Tahoe Police Department. They responded to 210 calls over the one-week period between February 9 and February 22, 2016.

Calls Resulting in Arrests:

2/9
Vandalism in the 2400 block of Lake Tahoe Blvd

2/10
No Arrests

2/11
No Arrests

2/12
Drunk in Public in the 1000 block of Emerald Bay Rd
Warrant on "Emerald Bay Rd North"
Resisting in the 4100 block of Lake Tahoe Blvd

2/13

Two men are behind bars after being arrested on suspicion of murder in connection with the shooting death of Dennis Wright, Jr. in South Lake Tahoe on January 30, 2016.

The following is a recap of activity the South Lake Tahoe Police Department. They responded to 340 calls between January 19 and February 2, 2016.

Calls Resulting in Arrests:

1/19
Domestic Battery in the 1000 block of 3rd St
Drunk in Public in the 2000 block of E St

1/20
Resisting in the 3900 block of Pioneer Trail

1/21
Petty Theft in the 4000 block of Lake Tahoe Blvd

1/22
DUI at Fawn and Glenwood Way
Drunk in Public in the 2200 block of Lake Tahoe Blvd

1/23

El Dorado County Sheriff's Office responds to calls throughout the county.

The following are calls that only pertain to the South Shore. There may be some missing calls due to sheriff's logs not being completed at press time and the story will be updated when provided.

1/24

9:39 a.m. - Driving without a license - Lake Tahoe Blvd - 36-YEAR OLD MALE DRIVER WAS FOUND NOT TO HAVE A DRIVERS LICENSE