Standoff at the Tahoe Keys Marina ends with arrest of suspect

6/21/15 4:45 p.m. update:

More details of Saturday's arrest have been released by the South Lake Tahoe Police Department.

As the pursuit of a car driven by 35-year-old Cory Pearson of Sacramento and South Lake Tahoe ended at the Tahoe Keys Marina, officers were able to establish a perimeter around his vehicle which had been reported stolen in Lakeland Village. Pearson yelled to officers that he was armed with a gun and threatened to use it if anyone approached. The South Lake Tahoe Police Department (SLTPD) SWAT Team and Crisis Response Team were called to assist.

Officers maintained a perimeter around the suspect and started evacuating the busy marina. A CHP helicopter was used to assist with coordinating ground units and provided over watch of the scene. As the incident unfolded, officers continued to give verbal commands to Pearson, but Pearson refused to comply and continually moved his vehicle, looking for an avenue of escape. The SLTPD Armored Rescue Vehicle (MRAP) was deployed to the scene and was eventually used to contain Pearson.

Pearson attempted to drive over a berm, but became high centered. The MRAP pinned Pearson’s vehicle against a rock. Pearson attempted to flee on foot and turned toward officers, concealing his hands in his waistband. A shotgun bean bag round was deployed, striking Pearson, causing him to fall to the ground. Officers approached Pearson with a K9 unit. Pearson continued to refuse officers commands, so the K9 unit was deployed and Pearson was ultimately apprehended without further incident.

A black replica, semi-automatic pistol was located in Pearson’s waistband, where he was concealing his hands. Pearson was transported to Barton Hospital for medical treatment as a result of the bean bag and K9 deployment. Pearson was booked into EDSO jail by deputies for driving a stolen vehicle, felony evading, possession of an altered or imitation firearm, resisting an officer with violence or threats of violence, wearing a mask during the commission of a crime and driving on a suspended license.

Original Story

A Sacramento man was arrested at the Tahoe Keys Marina on Saturday afternoon after a standoff that lasted over three hours.

Cory Pearson, 35, was contacted by a deputy from the El Dorado County Sheriff's Office (EDSO) at 12:30 p.m. who noticed the man parked on the side of the roadway with a bandanna over his face and acting erratcially, according to Sgt. Paul Hadjes of EDSO. The Deputy made contact with him and they talked. As the Deputy was waiting for backup, Pearson took off. The Deputy followed in pursuit with other law enforcement officers as they entered City limits. When they hit traffic on Lake Tahoe Blvd (an unrelated motorcycle accident had just occurred), the deputies shut down the pursuit by reducing speed and shutting off emergency lights, as to not cause any harm to people in the area.

Pearson started traveling at the speed limit once law enforcement backed off. They followed the suspect's car down Tahoe Keys Blvd where he drove to the dead-end on Ala Wai Blvd. Sheriff Deputies and South Lake Tahoe Police Department Officers (SLTPD) thought they had Pearson at this point since all exit points were blocked off.

Pearson then ran the car through a brick fence and drove to Venice Drive East and into the marina area. He was surrounded and ended up driving onto a dead end path that is used as access boat docks.

During the pursuit, SLTPD received a call from a man who said his rental car had been stolen. The car Pearson was driving turned out to be this stolen car.

EDSO, SLTPD, California Highway Patrol (CHP) and the U.S. Forest Service were all on the scene. CHP helicopter had also joined in the pursuit.

Officers on the scene were unsure if Pearson was armed. He wouldn't get out of his car so it was a standoff. SLTPD called in their Armored Rescue Vehicle Mine-Resistant Ambush Protected vehicle (MRAP) which pinned in the stolen car. Three negotiators from SLTPD also came to the scene to talk to Pearson, who failed to comply and wouldn't talk according to Sgt. Travis Cabral of SLTPD.

In the meantime, the Fresh Ketch was closed and all patrons and employees asked to stay inside the building. All surrounding businesses were also placed on lock down. Boaters waiting to get their boats in and out of the water had to wait out of the immediate area. People enjoying the beach and Cove East for the day had to stay away from the standoff area.

Cabral said Pearson never put his car in park during the whole ordeal. He made back and forth motions with the car, hitting the rocks on the path, but was unable to go anywhere. Once he hit the MRAP, Pearson got out of his car and tried to run.

Pearson was arrested at 4:10 p.m. and taken to Barton Memorial Hospital before being transferred to the El Dorado County Jail.

Pearson had a replica gun tucked into his pants. It looked real but turned out to be fake according to Lt. David Stevenson of SLTPD.

No shots were fired during the incident. Once word came to the Command Center that the standoff was over and the suspect arrested, officers could be seen with a smile as they breathed a sigh of relief.

South Lake Tahoe Police Department will be releasing a statement this evening.