Two arrested after suspected bomb closes SR89 at Emerald Bay and Raleys in South Lake Tahoe

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - A lead from the Las Vegas FBI led law enforcement to South Lake Tahoe to confront what they thought to be a woman intent on harming herself and perhaps others with a bomb.

On Friday afternoon at about 1:00 p.m., a vehicle with two passengers lead multiple law enforcement agencies from Reno up US 50 Spooner Summit toward Lake Tahoe. Inside was suspected to be the person the FBI notified law enforcement about and one other person, and, according to the Douglas County Sheriff's Office (DCSO), who had felony warrants and prior evading law enforcement arrests. DCSO deputies took over from Carson City Sheriff's deputies as the caravan of vehicles entered the Douglas County portion of Lake Tahoe.

By 2:00 p.m., DCSO was requested to shut down the area of SR 207 (Kingsbury Grade) and Foothill Road, Gardnerville, Nevada in anticipation the suspects were driving on SR 207 eastbound. Instead, they changed their direction and drove into South Lake Tahoe.

California State Parks picked up the vehicle near Camp Richardson on SR 89 not long after. They followed until the El Dorado County Sheriff's Office (EDSO) could respond. Prior to their arrival, the female driver pulled over on a bridge just north of the Vikingsholm parking lot.

The woman got out of the car with what she said was a bomb strapped onto her chest. After negotiations, deputies shot her with a beanbag and took her into custody. Arrested was 21-year-old Alana Blakemore, She was transported to Barton Hospital for drug ingestion and possible overdose according to South Lake Tahoe Police Department.

When Blakemore was arrested, she dropped a large backpack in the middle of the roadway, prompting the highway closure. All precautions were taken to make sure her car did not contain any explosives as well.

The male passenger, later identified as 24-year-old Hobie Gregory, took off running toward the lake prior to EDSO arriving. An alert driver saw a suspicious subject, who turned out to be Gregory, hitchhiking near Camp Richardson. That driver said they saw the suspicious subject get picked up and followed as he was dropped off at Raley’s at the Y.

SLTPD patrol officers and SWAT team responded to Raley’s. With the help of store staff, SLTPD were able to locate and arrest Gregory. They conducted a full sweep and found no bomb.

In the meantime, SR 89 remained closed from the Vikingsholm parking lot to north of where the woman parked her car. Tahoe Douglas Explosive Ordinance Disposal Team (EOD) and El Dorado County EOD responded. SLTPD SWAT team was also activated at Emerald Bay.

"We take every effort to make sure it's safe," said EDSO Sgt. Anthony Prencipe. Once the FBI and bomb squads deemed the road was reopened at about 7:30 p.m.

Dozens of people enjoying Eagle Falls and Emerald Bay for the day were stuck at the Vikingsholm parking lot due to their cars being parked near the bomb investigation. Families with small children, adults and pets waited over four hours to get to their vehicles and head to their destinations.

Both suspects are currently in the El Dorado County Jail in South Lake Tahoe. Blakemore is charged with felony and misdemeanor counts of obstruction of a peace officer and bail is set at $28,000. Gregory is charged with misdemeanor obstruction and bail is $3,000. If there are other felony warrants from other jurisdictions involved that is unknown at this time.

This is still a developing story and more information is expected to be released by the lead agency in the case, California State Parks.