dcso

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Chief Brian Uhler presented the idea of a take-home vehicle policy for the South Lake Tahoe Police Department (SLTPD) to the City Council Tuesday, something that many other departments across the world have found to be successful in both recruiting and retention. Not only for these reasons, but take-home vehicles have also resulted in cleaner cars with fewer mechanical problems, longer life-spans and reduced costs.

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Nev. - Video footage found on Facebook of a fight at a Gardnerville Ranchos home has led to the arrest two juveniles on charges of battery, affray (an instance of fighting in a public place that disturbs the peace), and destruction of property.

On September 3, 2019, at 3:15 p.m., deputies from the Douglas County Sheriff's Office (DCSO) were dispatched to the area of Wagon Drive in the Gardnerville Ranchos area of Douglas County for a fight in progress. Upon arrival, the deputies discovered one of the involved subjects had what they called "obvious injuries."

STATELINE, Nev. - Deputies from the Douglas County Sheriff's Office (DCSO) were called out to Nevada Beach Sunday at 1:30 p.m. when a caller into dispatch said there was a man on the beach with an assault-style rifle.

The beach was immediately shut down and facilities were searched. The South Lake Tahoe Police Department was called out to assist at the beach.

Tahoe Douglas Fire asked people to stay out of the area in a Twitter post - "There is currently a situation at Nevada Beach. Please stay clear. Law enforcement on scene." One hour later they tweeted all was clear.

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Nev. - Law enforcement is asking for the public's help in identifying a man who is the suspect in a residential burglary on July 31 around 5:30 p.m.

The Douglas County Sheriff's Office (DCSO) said the suspect, who is pictured above, is accused of stealing the homeowner's vehicle from their Gardnerville home. The home had a Ring doorbell security system that captured the suspect's approach.

Please contact DCSO Investigator Ryan Young at 775-782-9905 with any information leading to the identity of the subject in the photograph above. Refer to case number 19SO22386.

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.

MINDEN, Nev. - Three California residents were arrested by the Douglas County Sheriff's Office (DCSO) on Sunday, July 21 at the Power Dam camping area.

Jeremy Stritenberger, 43, and Riki Scibelli Eltingham, 40, were arrested after a stolen Toyota Tacoma was found at the camping area on Washoe Road. The Toyota and a log splitter were reported stolen in Yuba City, Calif. Deputies located large amounts of property and personal effects inside the vehicle that they believe to be stolen in separate crimes.

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Nev. - Another telephone scam is being reported to the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) and they want to make sure residents, especially the senior population, are informed.

This latest scam is much like others in the past. Unidentified callers are telling the person answering the phone they have a warrant issued from the FBI. The scammer is seeking large sums of money, generally $2,000 to $,5000, be sent via the mail in the form of pre-paid gift cards.

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Nev. - Patrol deputies with the Douglas County Sheriff's Office (DCSO) can now take their assigned patrol vehicles home with them, something other cities across the county have tried and had overwhelming success with.

DCSO Sheriff Dan Coverly has been looking at ways to maximize the effectiveness of his Patrol Division while also adding benefits to the public and savings to his budget.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Officers with the South Lake Tahoe Police Department were honored Thursday for their roles in the apprehension of a triple-homicide suspect on April 26, 2019.

The suspect allegedly wanted to kill more victims at South Lake Tahoe's Heavenly Village, making the officers' heroic actions that night even more important to the public's safety, according to SLTPD Chief Brian Uhler.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The following are the call logs for the South Lake Tahoe Police Department April 26 - April 28, 2019.

April 26

ARRESTS:
75-year-old male arrested for DUI.
20-year-old female cited and released for driving without a license.

TRAFFIC STOPS (18)

OTHER CALLS FOR SERVICE (44):
Assist Outside Agency: 100-block Lake Parkway
Assist Outside Agency: 3300-block Lake Tahoe Blvd.
Assist Outside Agency: Lake Tahoe Blvd/Park Ave.
Assist Outside Agency: 700-block Lakeview Ave

UPDATE 8:30AM 4/27/19: An observant officer from the South Lake Tahoe Police Department (SLTPD) was on patrol near the Heavenly Village at approximately 9:45 p.m. Friday night when he saw a car listed on a Bay Area police "Be On The Lookout" report go through an intersection. The report said the driver was a suspect in two homicides, one in each Oakland and San Francisco.

He followed the vehicle and attempted to pull it over with the assistance of another officer, but the driver took off and a pursuit began.

ZEPHYR COVE, Nev. - Authorities responded in full force Thursday morning to a home in the 500 block of US 50 in Zephyr Cove after a crisis call led them to believe a teenage girl was in labor and in danger.

At 6:43 a.m. on April 18, deputies from the Douglas County Sheriff's Office (DCSO) were dispatched to a residence in Zephyr Cove after the Live Violence Free crisis hotline center received a concerning call. The unidentified caller said they were a pregnant 13-year-old who believed she was in labor and had previously been raped by her father.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Three people have been arrested in connection with a domestic violence case out of South Lake Tahoe and a kidnapping case out of Stateline, Nevada that began on Saturday, March 9 in the city limits.

On that date, the South Lake Tahoe Police Department (SLTPD) got a report of a domestic violence incident that happened at a motel on the California side of the state line. When officers arrived, they found the 24-year-old victim cleaning

UPDATE 12:30 p.m. - Heavenly Ski Patrol, with the assistance of a K9 search dog, have located the body of Brett Herrick in the Aries Woods, about 100 feet from the groomed trail. He was immersed in deep snow and found at about 10:00 a.m.

Initial investigation indicates Herrick crashed into very deep powder and could not self-rescue and likely suffocated or died from exposure. An autopsy will be conducted to determine the exact cause of death.

The next of kin has been notified.

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Nev. - The investigation into the murder of two Gardnerville, Nevada women continues and Douglas County Sheriff Dan Coverley urges the community to remain vigilant and to pay attention in their neighborhoods.

During the evening of January 9-10, 56-year-old Connie Koontz was murdered in her home on James Road and sometime in the overnight hours of January 12-13, 74-year-old Sophia Renken was also murdered in her home.

UDPATE 1/13/19 - The second drowning victim has been recovered from Topaz Lake. The recovery efforts resumed today on at 9:00 a.m. by the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Marine 7 and search and rescue units, the Washoe County Sheriff’s Office Specialized Vehicle Unit (SUV) and their HASTY Dive Team, and Wardens from the Nevada Department of Wildlife.

At approximately 1:30 p.m. Marine 7’s ROV located the body of Jesse Gregory, 50, at a depth of 22 feet.

The surviving fisherman, Scott Wise, has recovered and was released from the hospital.

GARDNERVILLE, Nev. - A 56-year-old Gardnerville resident was murdered in her home on James Road in the Gardnerville Ranchos and the Douglas County Sheriff's Office (DCSO) is asking all residents to use caution as the murderer remains a threat to the community.

During either the evening of January 9 or the early morning hours of January 10, an unknown suspect entered the home of Connie Koontz and killed her.

"The Sheriff’s Office is asking you to be vigilant in locking all of your doors and windows and report any suspicious activity immediately," said DCSO Undersheriff Ron Elges.

The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) is asking for the public’s assistance with an attempted theft at the Walmart located in the Topsy Shopping Center on December 23.

At approximately 9:42 a.m. an unidentified man entered the store at 3770 US Highway 395 and selected 23 items, then proceeded to the self-checkout lanes. He scanned ten of the cheapest items, paid for them with cash, then attempted to leave the store when he was stopped by security.

The man fled without his items and left in what looks like a white Acura. He drove off towards the highway.

The South Lake Tahoe Police Department (SLTPD) and Douglas County Sheriff's Office (DCSO) Street Enforcement Team have conducted a joint investigation over the last nine months into the trafficking and sales of heroin and methamphetamine in the area.

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Nev. – The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office is looking the driver of a vehicle involved in an armed robbery and attempted abduction of a juvenile female between October 5-9 in the Gardnerville Ranchos area.

The vehicle involved in both crimes is similar to the one pictured in the photo above. It is a black older model Chevy Tahoe with scratches on the sides, dirty and dark windows.

One witness described the driver as a Hispanic or Native American male adult.

Two California residents were arrested Monday, September 24 outside the Gardnerville Walmart after the stolen vehicle they had been traveling in was found containing five pounds of marijuana.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - A Cameron Park, California man has been identified as the swimmer who went missing in Lake Tahoe on Sunday, September 9, 2018.

Multiple agencies responded to the 5:36 p.m. call for help and a possible drowning on the lake near Nevada Beach including the Coast Guard, Tahoe Douglas Fire Department, South Lake Tahoe Police Department (SLTPD) and South Lake Tahoe Fire Department, El Dorado County Sheriff (EDSO) and Douglas County Sheriff's Offices (DCSO).

A call was made to Douglas County Sheriff's Office (DCSO) 911 on Saturday, September 8 at approximately 3:30 p.m., alerting them of a missing man in his 60s at Lake Tahoe. The caller, the man's wife, said her husband had left around noon to go hiking in the area of Skunk Harbor on the east shore of Lake Tahoe and she hadn't heard from him.

The Douglas County Sheriff's Office (DCSO) recently made connections with a senior citizen through their new Caring Neighbors Program. They found the senior had been scammed out of over $34,000 over the past 20 months.

In the program, a deputy and a volunteer visit seniors to obtain needed information such as consent, next of kin and medication information. The information is beneficial in case of a future emergency involving the senior citizen.