South Lake Tahoe police arrest man on felony charges; stolen Lexus, wristwatch recovered

A 25-year-old South Lake Tahoe man was arrested and faces felony burglary and drug charges after a chase Monday that went from South Lake Tahoe across the state line.
Deonte Brown is suspected of stealing, among other things, a 2002 Lexus convertible from a Zephyr Cove home, South Lake Tahoe authorities said. He was booked into Douglas County Jail.

Having a felony record in El Dorado County and a probation status which made him subject to searches, a search of Brown's Manzanita Avenue apartment resulted in authorities finding a large amount of heroin and the recovery of many items thought to be stolen from various home burglaries, said South Lake Tahoe Police Officer Andrew Eissinger. Brown was found to be wearing a wristwatch, valued at $5,000, that was believed to be stolen from a Zephyr Cove home.

The following is a news release issued Tuesday by South Lake Tahoe Police:

Burglary Suspect Arrested After Leading Officers on a Foot Pursuit
On Monday, September 3rd, 2012, officers from the South Lake Tahoe Police Department and the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Department responded to an apartment complex at 4055 Manzanita Avenue in South Lake Tahoe to investigate a report of a possible stolen vehicle in the parking lot. Officers discovered the stolen vehicle, a 2002 Lexus convertible, under a cover. It had been stolen during a residential burglary in Zephyr Cove, Nevada two weeks earlier.

Twenty-five year old Deonte Brown resides at this apartment complex. Investigating officers soon identified him as the suspect. Brown is on felony probation in El Dorado County for drug convictions and for resisting law enforcement officers. He is subject to search and seizure provisions as part of his probation. Brown was not home when officers conducted a probation search of his apartment. Officers recovered multiple stolen items, related to a string of recent residential burglaries in Nevada and California, from Brown’s apartment. These included high value watches, jewelry, computers, flat-screen TVs and collector coins. Investigating officers also found the key to the stolen Lexus inside the apartment, along with a large amount of heroin.

A few hours after this probation search was concluded, a SLTPD Officer Barry Rider saw and recognized Deonte Brown driving a vehicle in the Manzanita Avenue neighborhood. Officer Rider conducted a traffic stop on the car Brown was driving. Brown quickly fled from the car. He led officers on a foot pursuit across the state line and into Nevada, where officers caught and captured him behind Harvey’s Casino. Brown was taken into custody without further incident. Deonte Brown was wearing a wristwatch valued at approximately $5,000 when he was arrested. This wrist watch was also identified stolen property; having been taken during another residential burglary in Zephyr Cove, Nevada.

Douglas County Sheriff Deputies responded, took custody of Deonte Brown and booked him into the Douglas County jail on multiple charges including possession of stolen property, possession of narcotics, and resisting arrest. If anyone has information related to this event, they are encouraged to contact Detective Nick Carlquist of the South Lake Tahoe Police Department at (530) 542-6100. Please refer to case number 1209-0250.