Busy weekend for SLTPD: Shooting, armed robbery, arson and motorcycle theft

One can tell summer is here with the increased number of calls into the South Lake Tahoe Police Department. If keeping drivers, pedestrians and cyclists safe weren’t enough, officers responded to several out of the usual type of calls this weekend.

On Friday night at 7:00 p.m., an 18-year-old from Shingle Springs was drinking with other underage friends at a house on James Avenues when he pulled out a Glock firearm and started playing with it. According to police reports, his friends became concerned and asked the young man to put the loaded gun away. He had pulled the mag release and there were bullets in the chamber. “It’s okay, I know what I’m doing,” he told the friends. As he played around with the gun he aimed it towards his chin and shot himself.

The gunshot victim was flown to Renown via Careflight with serious injuries. His current condition is unknown.

Officers confiscated several other guns at the home. The Glock used in this incident was given to Leibel by his father, according to police reports.

Sgt. Travis Cabral of the SLTPD reminds all gun owners to have proper training as guns in handling of firearms and to practice gun safety at all times. “Everyone should refrain from handling firearms when under the influence of any medications, drugs or alcohol,” he added.

The South Lake Tahoe Fire and Police Departments both responded to a 4:00 p.m. arson fire Saturday near South Tahoe High School. Two young boys, ages 5 and 6, had been playing with fire and started a forest fire on school grounds behind the apartments located at 1821 Lake Tahoe Blvd.

A 30 foot by 30 foot area burned before it could be extinguished. No charges are expected to filed at this time.

As officers were working on the fire report, a motorcycle was stolen at the McDonald’s on Emerald Bay Road.

The victim had pulled into the fast food restaurant on his orange, 2008 Venture KTM motorcycle with large aluminum saddle bags. He had left the keys on the bike, and an unidentified suspect dressed in dark clothing took advantage of the situation and stole it at approximately 4:20 p.m. Saturday. The motorcycle has Illinois plates 17L 962.

Just after this incident, at 5:00 p.m., a 911 call went into the police department dispatch of an armed robbery at the U.S. Gas station at the corner of Lodi and Lake Tahoe Blvd.

A suspect had entered the store, pulled out a silver semi-automatic handgun hidden inside his blue arm sling, and demanded money from the clerk.

The unidentified suspect is a white male adult, blondish or reddish hair with a few days of beard growth. He was wearing all white clothing and a grey beanie at the time of the robbery.

The suspect got away with a large amount of cash. Anyone with information is asked to contact Detective Herminghaus of the South Lake Tahoe Police Department at 530-542-6100.