police department

Nearly two dozen people were arrested during a monthlong Carson City area drug sweep that involved multiple agencies, the Carson City Sheriff's Office Special Enforcement Team announced Friday.

The Carson City SET, with the assistance from multiple agencies to include, the Department of Public Safety Tri Net Narcotics task force, the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office Special Investigation Unit and the Reno Police Department Street Enforcement Team conducted the narcotics suppression operation targeting those using and selling narcotics in the Carson City area.

4:15 p.m. 2/12/18 update: Family members say the man who died in Sunday's house fire is Dean Eastin. His former sister-in-law Mimi Bertrand told South Tahoe Now that it was Dean who died. His two adult children, Lori and Gregory, moved from South Lake Tahoe and now live in Grants Pass, Oregon.

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8:00 p.m. update: The cause of the deadly fire in South Lake Tahoe today was the result of smoking materials on a couch. The deceased is a 58-year-old male. There is an ongoing investigation by the South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue and Police departments. No name has been released.

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Human Trafficking is the trade of humans for the purpose of forced labor, sexual slavery, or commercial sexual exploitation for the trafficker or others; a modern day form of slavery. It is a multi-billion dollar criminal industry that denies freedom to 20.9 million people around the world

And its happening outside our door.

Washoe County Sheriff’s Office Deputies participating in a Nevada Department of Public Safety Joining Forces Distracted Driving prevention campaign this month cited more than 80 drivers for speeding and 43 drivers for cell phone use.

Joining Forces is a multi-jurisdictional law enforcement program that promotes statewide enforcement in the areas of: DUI, distracted driving, seat belt, and speed and pedestrian safety. The goal of these enforcement campaigns is to save lives by increasing public awareness about the dangers of making poor choices while driving.

A former motel maintenance worker at a South Lake Tahoe motel has been sentenced to 183 years to life for the brutal sexual assault of a 22-year-old Macedonian exchange student in 2015.

Manuel Ovidio Ramos-Munoz was found guilty in November, 2017 on seven felony counts, including kidnapping for the purpose of committing a sexual assault, as well as six additional counts and numerous special allegations relating to the subsequent sexual assault of the victim.

Officials from the Lake Tahoe Unified School District (LTUSD) are warning residents that an individual or company is making phone calls and/or going to homes in our area and offering tutoring services.

The fake tutors are telling families that their child's school sent them. In return for the services they are asking for credit card numbers or cash.

According to the South Lake Tahoe Police Department, a woman by the name of Marycarmen Estrada has contacted at least one local family to provide tutoring services.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE - The following is a recap of activity the South Lake Tahoe Police Department responded to 336 calls between January 4 -15, 2018.

Calls Resulting in Arrests/Citations:

1/4

Trespassing in the 2100 block of South Ave
Evading in the 2800 block of Hank Monk
Domestic Battery in the 3700 block of Tamarack

1/5

Domestic Battery in the 3700 block of Tamarck
Unlicensed Driver in the 3700 block of Lake Tahoe Blvd

1/6

Spousal Abuse in the 1200 block of Lester ave

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, CALIF. - A man from Northern California is recovering after suffering from a medical condition that caused him to crash his Chevy Silverado pickup into a tree Sunday morning in South Lake Tahoe.

At 9:12 a.m. January 7, emergency crews responded to the crash site on Pioneer Trail near Needle Peak Road. South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue had to extricate the unidentified man from the truck.

The man, who is in his mid-40s, was alone in the truck when he had a seizure. Witnesses reported seeing the driver attempt to pull his truck off the roadway prior to the crash.

In a three-hour period on Tuesday, January 2, 2018, three vehicle burglaries occurred along Highway 50 in South Lake Tahoe, one each at IHOP, Denny's and the Stateline Raley's.

All burglaries were a smash and grab where the perpetrator(s) broke the vehicle's windows and grabbed valuables from inside the cars.

The South Lake Tahoe Police Department (SLTPD) reminds everyone to not leave valuables in their vehicle, and to also keep eyes open and report suspicious activity. Also, keep homes and vehicles locked at all times.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE - The following is a recap of activity the South Lake Tahoe Police Department responded to 198 calls between December 13 - 20, 2017.

Calls Resulting in Arrests/Citations:

12/13 - 18 total calls
Warrant in the 1000 block of Johnson Blvd

12/14 - 21 total calls
Unlicensed Driver in the 1000 block of Al Tahoe Blvd

12/15 - 23 total calls
Warrant in the 1000 block of Chonokis Rd
DUI in the 1000 block of Glenwood Way
Trespassing in the 800 block of Michael Dr

The string of holiday season killings in the Las Vegas Valley continued Saturday morning when two security guards were gunned down inside a hotel room.

The killings at Arizona Charlie’s Decatur marked the fourth double homicide and the fifth multiple homicide investigated by the Metropolitan Police Department this month.

Since Dec. 22 alone, Metro has investigated 12 homicides, all but one resulting from gun violence. But over the same stretch, the valley has had 15 homicides, including the deaths of three people inside a North Las Vegas home Thursday.

With the new South Lake Tahoe Vacation Home Rental (VHR) Ordinance going into effect on Friday, December 22, 2017, the police department took the first steps in acting on one part of that new document, the three strikes and you're out portion.

On Thursday, South Lake Police Department (SLTPD) sent certified mail notices to permitted VHR owners who have had one or two upheld violations in the last 24 months.

12.20.17 update: When closures are in place, Al Tahoe Boulevard will be closed from Johnson Blvd to Pioneer Village to lessen impact on residents.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, CALIF. - The 7th annual SnowGlobe Music Festival returns to South Lake Tahoe December 29-31, but those attending and nearby residents need to know of changes to the layout, resulting in some road closures.

Retired South Lake Tahoe K9 Duke has passed away according to the South Lake Tahoe Police Canine Association. During his years of service he was responsible for the seizure of almost half a million dollars cash and countless narcotics detection arrests. He had numerous street suspect apprehensions, none of which were ever challenged in criminal or civil court according to his handler, Tony Broadfoot.

Duke had been trained by the Dutch Police in Belgium prior to coming to South Lake Tahoe in December of 2005.

Tony Broadfoot wrote this about Duke on the association's Facebook page:

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The holiday season is here! Before you head out the door to finish up or start your shopping, the South Lake Tahoe Police Department would like to take a moment to remind you of a few safety tips.

Vehicle Safety:
Park your vehicle in a well-lit area.

This opinion piece has been updated.

Stephan L. DeGraffenreid will be spending the next 15 years in prison after being sentenced Wednesday by United States District Judge Howard D. McKibben.

DeGraffenreid plead guilty to one count of sexual exploitation of a minor and two counts of attempted sexual exploitation of a minor in September. He was sentenced to the minimum number of years for those charges.

Winter is upon us as we begin to see light snowfall and cold, icy conditions. Every year families travel to South Lake Tahoe for Thanksgiving and Christmas, leading to congested roadways and an increase in pedestrian traffic. Many of these travelers are foreign to winter weather and do not have much experience driving in icy conditions. The South Lake Tahoe Police Department reminds motorists to be alert and courteous so that everyone can arrive at their destination and enjoy the holiday season with their friends and loved ones.

Cub Scout Pack 592 of South Lake Tahoe held their fifth annual Police and Fire Night at St. Theresa’s Grace Hall on November 14.

Scouts were able to see first-hand the tools and techniques that first responders use to keep the community safe and how they work together when someone needs help.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE - The following is a recap of activity the South Lake Tahoe Police Department responded to 418 calls between October 23 - November 5, 2017.

Calls Resulting in Arrests/Citations:

10/23 - 24 Total Calls

Transient Homeless in the 2600 block of Lake Tahoe Blvd
Warrant in the 1900 block of Lake Tahoe Blvd
Resisting in the 1200 block of Bonanza
Warrant in the 3900 block of Pioneer Trail

10/24 - 23 Total Calls

Suspicious Activity in the 1000 block of Emerald Bay Rd

A jury has found Manuel Ovidio Ramos-Munoz guilty of seven felony counts, including kidnapping for the purpose of committing a sexual assault, as well as six additional counts and numerous special allegations relating to the subsequent sexual assault of the victim.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - There weren't just hungry customers at IHOP in South Lake Tahoe Saturday morning, a hungry bear also decided to stop by.

The large bear got into the dumpster around 8:00 a.m. as staff was taking trash out on October 14, but once in he couldn't get out.

9:15AM Update - The South Lake Tahoe Police Department has contacted two men who are considered "investigative leads" at this point. As of this time no arrests have been made and the investigation is continuing.

Witnesses reported that two Hispanic males in their 20’s with short dark colored hair were the occupants in the vehicle.

The gun used in the event appear to be a semi-automatic handgun.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Three local employees were cited by a recent decoy operation to catch people selling alcohol to minors.

On September 28, 2017, the South Lake Tahoe Police Department, through a grant form the California Alcoholic Beverage Control (ABC), conducted the minor decoy operation where minors under their supervision attempted to purchase alcohol from 19 different establishments.