South Lake Tahoe man with gang ties arrested with loaded assault rifle

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - What started out as car crash involving a suspected drunk driver turned out much differently for the South Lake Tahoe Police Department (SLTPD) on New Year's Eve.

Officers responded to a report of a traffic collision in the 800 block of Los Angeles Avenue on December 31. Upon arrival they found that a Chevrolet Silverado had struck a parked car and a bear box. The driver, 33-year-old Victor Alfonso Ramos-Eucendo of South Lake Tahoe, appeared to be intoxicated.

After Ramos-Eucendo was being arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence, officers discovered a loaded Norinco Mak-90 assault rifle (AK-47 variant) inside the vehicle. The rifle had a high capacity 30-round magazine and was loaded. Ramos-Eucendo was also in possession of methamphetamine.

The suspect admitted to SLTPD that he was on his way to confront a drug dealer over a dispute he had with him when he collided with the parked car. Ramos-Eucendo also admitted to law enforcement he had gang ties to MS-13 when he lived in Central America and was a current member of the Sureños street gang, according to SLTPD Lt. Shannon Laney.

Who Ramos-Eucendo was intending to confront and where he obtained the assault rifle is still under investigation.

Ramos-Eucendo was booked into the El Dorado County Jail on charges of Illegal Possession of an Assault Weapon, Carrying a Loaded Firearm in a Vehicle, DUI and Possession of a Controlled Substance. SLTPD will be requesting charges for possession of a high capacity magazine to be added at time of arraignment, said Laney.

The suspect remains in jail on $107,500 bail.

Anyone with information regarding this case is requested to contact SLTPD Detective Jake Herminghaus at (530) 542-6100.