Quick response nabs South Lake Tahoe carjacking and attempted murder suspect

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - A 45-year-old South Lake Tahoe man has been arrested after allegedly stabbing an employee of Jim Bagan Toyota and carjacking a white Dodge Durango he'd taken out for a test drive.

On March 25, 2019 at about 11:00 a.m., deputies from the El Dorado County Sheriff's Office (EDSO) were called to a report of a stabbing and carjacking on Tahoe Mountain Road in South Lake Tahoe. The unidentified salesman made the call and told the dispatch operator he was stabbed during a test drive and was able to escape the vehicle and provided a description of the suspect, vehicle and direction of travel.

An EDSO deputy arrived on scene and due to the severity of the injury to the victim, immediately transported him to Barton Hospital in his patrol vehicle.

Another EDSO Deputy traveling south on Highway 89, along with the California Highway Patrol (CHP), observed a matching vehicle. CHP went into a pursuit with the Durango as it failed to yield to them. The Durango crashed into a snow berm near the county line on Luther Pass and the driver ran from the vehicle. The suspect was noncompliant but arrested without incident.

Arrested was Jonathan Paget. He is facing charges of attempted murder and carjacking and is being held in the El Dorado County Jail on $200,000 bail.

On March 18, 2019, the Esmeralda County Sheriff's Office in Goldfield, Nevada reported an arrest of Paget for Break/Injure/Tamper with Vehicle, Unlawful Breaking into Vacant Property, Theft, and Assault with a Deadly Weapon. His bail was set at $17,250. It is unknown at this time if Paget posted bail or was released. A call to that department was referred to the Sheriff who is out of the office Tuesday.

The victim, a 29-year-old male, is expected to survive from his injuries. There are two Jim Bagan Toyota dealerships on Lake Tahoe Boulevard in South Lake Tahoe. It is unknown at this time which one the alleged crime began.

Great teamwork by the law enforcement agencies in South Lake Tahoe led to the quick and safe arrest of a violent suspect, said EDSO Sgt. Anthony Prencipe.

No further information is available at this time and this is a developing story.