Seven local gang members arrested in South Lake Tahoe

Suspicious activity on Halloween night led to the arrest of five men and two juvenile girls in South Lake Tahoe on several charges.

Near midnight, two officers from the South Lake Tahoe Police Department (SLTPD) observed two car loads of suspected gang members drive to the dead end of Spruce Avenue, where a drive-by shooting on October 14 had taken place. Some of the occupants had blue bandanas over their faces.

The SLTPD officers believed a crime had taken place, or was about to take place, and detained the occupants of the cars. Each vehicle emitted odors of marijuana an alcohol from their interiors. Searches conducted of both the people and cars turned up several weapons including a stun gun, a switchblade, a metal bat, brass knuckles and a loaded and concealed .22 caliber pistol with extra loaded magazines, as well as marijuana and contraband alcohol. Charges included felonies and misdemeanors ranging from conspiracy to commit a crime to contribution to the delinquency of minors.

Arrested were 18-year-olds Oscar Arreola, Jorge Medrano, and Luis Garcia Camacho, 20-year-old Guian-Renz Corpuz Agbigay, 24-year old Edward Christopher and the two minor girls, ages 15 and 16. All are from South Lake Tahoe and known gang members according to SLTPD Lt. Brian Williams.

Only Medrano and Christopher remain in the El Dorado County Jail on Tuesday afternoon.

Officers were on extra patrol because recent violent crime activities in the city. The department added crime prevention efforts with officers working in plain clothes and unmarked vehicles, all watching for gang related activities.