Suspect arrested in South Lake Tahoe food contamination crime

A South Lake Tahoe man is behind bars tonight after being arrested as the suspect in a food contamination case at Raley’s in the Village Center near Stateline.

On Tuesday, November 22, South Lake Tahoe Police Department (SLTPD) arrested 43-year-old Harry Dally at his residence and booked him into county jail on a single felony count of intentionally dispensing a contaminating substance capable of causing death or injury on food items for human consumption. At this time he is only charged with the crime at the Hot Wok inside of Raley’s. His bail has been set at $100,000.

For the past week SLTPD detectives have been investigating reports of several instances of intentional contamination of food items by a suspect(s) in at least two local restaurants. The first report involved approximately four events at the Hot Wok Chinese Food restaurant in the Raley’s Supermarket. The next report involved a similar number of events at the Baja Fresh restaurant in the same South Lake Tahoe shopping center. The crimes occurred over an approximate two-week period from November 8 through November 19. Based upon the suspect’s method of operation and description of the appearance and chemical odor associated with the substance used to contaminate the food sources, detectives believe the crimes are connected.

Detectives, through collaboration with Raley’s security personnel, were able to identify the suspect in the video as Dally.

SLTPD served a search warrant at Dally’s residence Tuesday and the search revealed items of interest related to this investigation.

Though they believe they know what the substance is that was used on the food, SLTPD is intentionally withholding the information as the investigation is ongoing and they are waiting on laboratory analysis confirmation of the substance and questioning of the suspect.

"Based upon this arrest we believe the immediate jeopardy to the public has been abated," said SLTPD Lt. Brian Williams. "Nevertheless, reasonable caution by the public and our community food proprietors is still warranted due to the identity of the suspect responsible for the Baja Fresh crimes has not yet been fully established."

Completion of the laboratory analysis is expected Wednesday and at that time, more information may be released.

Williams said they believe a strong possibility exists that the crimes at the Baja Fresh restaurant and the Raley’s Hot Wok are connected, but they have yet to receive video from Baja Fresh corporate resources in order to make a positive identification of a suspect there. Detectives continue to objectively investigate the crimes at Baja Fresh, on their own merit.