South Lake Tahoe Police Dog Helps Nab Pair on Drug Charges

A mid-day car crash on Monday led to the arrest of a couple out of San Mateo, CA on charges of hit and run, conspiracy to commit a crime, and transportation/sales of methamphetamine.

South Lake Tahoe Police responded to a report that a Jaguar sedan had crashed into a fence and street light on Lake Tahoe Boulevard near Tata Lane. Witnesses reported the car left the scene and then stopped on Lake Tahoe Blvd near the intersection of Julie Lane. The driver and passenger switched spots, and the vehicle traveled a short distance north on Julie Lane where it parked in the parking lot of a church.

Officers approached the car where they found Jesus Cruz-Torres, 29, in the driver's seat and Marleni Fuentes-Perez, 22, on the passenger side. Police K-9 Quatro and Officer Morrison were called to the scene where Quatro uncovered 12 ounces of methamphetamine.

Fuentes-Perez told police she was driving when the vehicle veered off the roadway and collided with the fence and light pole. There was no evidence the female was under the influence of drugs or alcohol at the time of the collision.

The pair were arrested and booked into El Dorado County Jail.

It was Quatro's 3rd birthday and his biggest drug find to date.