police department

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - It was a normal day of skiing in South Lake Tahoe on Friday, December 7, 2018 for a couple from Oakland, California. They had parked their car on the top floor of the five-story parking garage at Heavenly Village, left their two dogs Titan and Comet inside and hit the slopes for three hours.

The following is a recap of activity for the South Lake Tahoe Police Department from October 18-November 17. They responded to 868 calls during this period.

Calls Resulting in Arrests/Citations:

10/18 - 41 calls for the day
No Arrests

10/19 - 29 calls for the day
DUI in the 2500 block of Lake Tahoe Blvd
Unlicensed driver in the 3000 block of Lake Tahoe Blvd

10/20 - 31 calls for the day
DUI in the 1000 block of Lodi Ave
Unlicensed Driver in the 1200 block of Kyburz
Driving on a Suspended/Revoked License at Blackwood and Pioneer

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Even though she was sentenced to six months in jail after taking a plea deal for her embezzlement of almost $60,000, Niki Congero, the former executive director of the Lake Tahoe Humane Society, has been released and is now back in Tennessee a free woman.

She was in the El Dorado County Jail from August 1 to October 28, a total of 89 days. Her jail term started the day of her arrest in Tennessee.

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.

The following is a recap of activity for the South Lake Tahoe Police Department from October 1 to 17. They responded to 476 calls during this period.

Calls Resulting in Arrests/Citations:

10/1 - 42 calls

Drunk in Public in the 1800 block of Lake Tahoe Blvd.

10/2 - 28 calls

No Arrests

10/3 - 22 calls

DUI at Lake Tahoe Blvd and Los Angeles Ave
Violation of Domestic Violence Court Order in the 2500 block of William Ave

10/4 - 29 calls

Warrant at Transit Way and Lake Tahoe Blvd

10/5 - 28 calls

Drunk in Public in the 1000 block of Johnson Blvd

10/30 Update: The shooting suspect from the officer involved shooting on October 29, 2018 has been positively identified as 34-year-old Billy Jo Johnson of Gardnerville, Nev.

Next of kin notifications have been completed.

This is still an active investigation and no further information is available at this time.

* * *
7:15 p.m. update - The suspect who died after the pursuit had a felony warrant for arrest for a PC 211, Robbery with a Firearm.

With an officer shortage in South Lake Tahoe, the police department is seeking applications for the position of "Police Officer Untrained/Trainee."

The City of South Lake Tahoe is looking for officers to fill a void created with the departure of four trained officers to other jurisdictions. If hired, candidates will get paid to attend the police academy and start with an annual salary of $63,505.52.

On April 18, 2017 the South Lake Tahoe City Council unanimously passed a resolution to do two things: Power the South Lake Tahoe community with electricity provided from 100 percent renewable sources by 2032; and reduce community carbon emissions from baseline by at least 80 percent by 2040. The 100% Renewable Committee was formed to help the City accomplish these tasks.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - A 65-year-old man died Friday night after being struck by a vehicle near Denny's on Lake Tahoe Boulevard. Just before 7:30 p.m. on September 28, the South Lake Tahoe Police Department (SLTPD) received several calls about a pedestrian versus vehicle collision near the intersection of Lake Tahoe and Al Tahoe Boulevards.

Upon arrival they found an unresponsive man lying in the roadway in front of Denny's. South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue personnel arrived and pronounced the local man deceased at the scene.

It's election time which also means it's time for political signs to be found throughout the South Lake Tahoe community.

City of South Lake Tahoe Police Chief Brian Uhler is reminding candidates. their committees and supporters about the rules for signage placement.

Here is the law pertaining to signs as outlined in City Code 6.14.130A:

- Only on private property with permission from owner (no public easements)
- Size limited to 12 square feet—(for example: 3’ x 4’ or 2’ x 6’)
- Not “intentionally illuminated”

The body of the 33-year-old man who went missing in Lake Tahoe on September 8, 2018 was located by the Douglas County Sheriff's Office underwater remote operated vehicle (ROV) and then recovered on Monday, September 17.

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).

The Lake Tahoe South Shore Chamber of Commerce, also known as the Tahoe Chamber, is holding the annual Blue Ribbon Awards on November 8 at the MontBleu Resort from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The public is invited to participate in the nomination process and can submit their candidates for the awards until October 5.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The semi-annual Cram-A-Cruiser Day will be held at the Grocery Outlet at 2358 Lake Tahoe Blvd. in South Lake Tahoe on Saturday, October 6 from 10:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Cram-A-Cruiser day encourages the community to fill up a South Lake Tahoe police cruiser with food to be given to children at local schools who need nutrition over the weekend when the LTUSD free lunch program doesn't cover meals.

Nicola "Niki" Congero, the former Lake Tahoe Humane Society (LTHS) executive director accused of embezzlement, is now sitting in the El Dorado County Jail in Placerville.

On Sunday, August 19, 2018, the El Dorado County Sheriff's extradition team returned from Knoxville, Tennessee with Congero. She is accused of using the LTHS debit card on personal things such gambling, rental furniture for her home, dentist bills, family cell phones, repairs to family members vehicles, and numerous point of sale purchases with cash back at casinos, just to name a few.

Chautauquan Deke DiMarzo will portray Watchman Alex Coryell: Virginia City Police Department 1873 to 1891 at the Dangberg Home Ranch Historic Park on Wednesday, August 15 at 6:30 pm.

Alex R. Coryell was a watchman for the Virginia City Police Department from 1873 until June 25, 1891. Coryell was a Civil War veteran who left the state of Virginia after the war and moved to Virginia City, Nevada. His family became well known and prominent in Virginia City, with one of his relatives becoming a pharmacist on C Street.

Location

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The body of a 21-year-old California man was located in Lake Tahoe Sunday afternoon, more than 24 hours after he jumped off a boat near Edgewood Tahoe.

El Dorado County Sheriff's Office cadaver dogs alerted others to the body of the man about one-quarter mile off shore between Tahoe Meadows and Lakeside Marina just before 5:00 p.m. Sunday, according to South Lake Tahoe Police Officer Traci Trapani.

The identity of the man is being withheld pending notification of next-of-kin.

Detectives from the South Lake Tahoe Police Department flew to Tennessee overnight to arrest Nicola "Niki" Congero, the former executive director of Lake Tahoe Humane Society.

Congero, 50, was arrested without incident on the morning of Wednesday, August 1 and booked into the Knoxville jail on charges of embezzling approximately $60,000 from the South Lake Tahoe based non-profit. She is being held there on $200,000 bail and is currently awaiting extradition.

It's time again for people to make nominations for the Tahoe Chamber's 11th annual Blue Ribbon Awards.

This awards program is the community’s opportunity to recognize South Shore businesses, organizations and individuals for achievements, community contributions, and milestones.

The awards ceremony will be held on November 8, 2018 at MontBleu Resort Casino, and nominations will be accepted until October 5.

Categories for nominations:

Experience Award - Business providing compelling and captivating experiences.

Citing a lack of bear boxes and contractors to install them, the South Lake Tahoe Police Department has extended the July 31, 2018 deadline their installation at vacation home rentals (VHRs) for two months.

The new ordinance that went into effect December 22, 2017 gave homeowners of the VHRs until this month to have them installed. While hundreds have been installed, there are still many waiting to get them in the ground and they are on waiting lists.

The follow letter was given to South Tahoe Now and mailed to the South Lake Tahoe Mayor, City Councilmembers and staff:

Dear Mayor David and Council Members:

I am writing to you as a follow-up to my letter of May 12, 2018 (see at end of story) regarding Policy Priorities and Issues for City Government.

Quality and Affordable Housing for Residents is Very Important

A South Lake Tahoe man is behind bars facing several charges including arson and robbery.

His first alleged offense was on July 16 at 12:36 p.m. when 43-year-old Eric Almdale allegedly threatened to kill a family member over money. He fled the home in the 1000 block of Echo Avenue with the money.

A day on the lake is a dream come true for many, but for two South Lake Tahoe Police Department officers it's another day at the office. As they navigate Lake Tahoe they are looking for speeders, unsafe practices, life vests, drunk boaters and boat registrations, as well as responding to life threatening crashes and drownings.

"It's our little city out here," explained Steve O'Brien who has manned the South Lake Tahoe police boat for 17 summers.

One man died and his shooter arrested after an argument on Saturday, June 30 in South Lake Tahoe.

Police responded to the 1000 block of Julie Lane shortly before 5:30 p.m. after reports of shots fired. Upon arrival they found 44-year-old Christopher Kitchen of South Lake Tahoe on the road at the entrance to Tahoe Verde Mobile Home Park. Despite life saving measures, Kitchen was prounounced deceased after medics took the victim to Barton Memorial Hospital.