south lake tahoe police

Lisa Maloff is continuing her charitable ways in the South Shore community with yet another sizable donation. This time, it is in the amount of $2.5 million to be used on the sports field and track at Whittell High School in Zephyr Cove, Nev.

In a declaration approved by the Douglas County School District, the donation is to "enhance the education and athletic experience" of the students who attend Whittell.

Readers of South Tahoe Now are already aware of this with our weekly coverage of police and sheriff calls for the South Shore, there is a rise in property theft.

According to the South Lake Tahoe Police Department (SLTPD), the rise is a result of thieves being able to act quickly when they see unattended and unsecured property in vehicles, homes and public places. Since July 1, 2016, there have been 54 reported thefts in just the city limits, or 3.375 thefts per day. Of the 54 thefts reported, 61% (33) are a result of unsecured and/or unattended property.

The following is a recap of activity the South Lake Tahoe Police Department responded to 236 calls between July 5 and July 11, 2016.

Calls Resulting in Arrests:

7/5
Spousal Abuse in the 4100 block of Lake Tahoe Blvd
Domestic Battery in the 3400 block of Lake Tahoe Blvd
Spousal Abuse in the 4100 block of Lake Tahoe Blvd
Violation of Court Order in the 1000 block of 3rd st
Kidnapping in the 900 block of Modesto Ave

7/6
Trespassing in the 1000 block of Heavenly Village Way
Drug Offense in the 3400 block of Lake Tahoe Blvd

Beach wrestling is returning to South Lake Tahoe and everyone is invited to participate. Local wrestling coaches Ryan Wallace and Dave Borges are continuing with the success of their inaugural event in 2015, and holding their 2nd annual tournament on Saturday, July 16 at 9:00 a.m. on El Dorado Beach at Lakeview Commons.

Once again, South Tahoe Stand Up Paddle and the Kiwanis Club of Lake Tahoe are sponsoring the event along with the help of the South Lake Tahoe Police Activities League (PAL).

The following is a recap of activity the South Lake Tahoe Police Department responded to 774 calls between June 14 and July 4, 2016.

Calls Resulting in Arrests:

6/14
Spousal Abuse in the 900 block of Alameda Ave
Drug Offense in the 1000 block of Johnson Blvd
Warrant in the 2200 block of Barton Ave
Petty Theft in the 1000 block of Al Tahoe

6/15
DUI at Tallac and Lake Tahoe Blvd
Evading in the 2100 block of Lake Tahoe Blvd
Warrant in the 1000 block of Johnson Blvd
Battery in the 800 block of Los Angeles Ave

For the 96 hours that made up the 4th of July weekend this year, South Lake Tahoe police arrested 27 people, nine of them on the holiday.

SLTPD Chief Brian Uhler said they could have made more arrests, but his officers look for a peaceful solution. If there is a sober adult in the situation, police will many times let them take care of the person in their party who'd been drinking. This leaves officers available and on the streets in case of emergencies, and not tied up with paperwork.

A list of the 27 arrests:

An almost six-hour long standoff in the parking lot of the South Lake Tahoe Motel 6 parking lot has ended, with no suspect in custody, though a warrant has been issued for 31-year-old Sean Wanamaker.

South Lake Tahoe Police officers were called to the area Saturday afternoon after a person said a man got into an argument with someone in the parking lot, and that he brandished a handgun, then went into a trailer parked at the motel.

8:30 p.m. update 7/1/16: The investigation of Friday's bank robbery at the Al Tahoe branch of El Dorado Savings led to the identification of Gabriel Antonio Evans, 36, of South Lake Tahoe as the suspect.

Detectives secured an arrest warrant for Evans and a search warrant for his residence in the 3000 block of Riverside Avenue. Due to Evan’s past violent criminal history, the SWAT team was employed to make the arrest. Officers, assisted by the FBI, arrested Evans at his residence at 7:45 p.m. this evening.

A lawsuit against the City of South Lake Tahoe over the fees charged to those who rent out their homes as vacation rentals was won by the City in court this week. The June 23 verdict was received by all parties on June 28.

Judge Steven Bailey of the El Dorado County Superior Court issued an 11-page decision supporting the City's rights to charge fees to recover their costs in administering the VHR ordinance, including staff time for accounting, planning, building department, administration, code enforcement and other costs.

9:00 a.m. update 6/27: Michael Anderson, 48, was arrested for felony domestic violence and for discharging a firearm in an inhabited dwelling. His 57-year-old girlfriend was taken to Barton Hospital last night with a gunshot wound in the abdomen. According to Lt. Brian Williams of the South Lake Tahoe Police Department, her condition is unknown at this time, but it doesn't appear to be life-threatening.

She was able to speak to police Sunday night. Both parties told SLTPD detectives they were wrestling over a gun during an argument and "the gun went off."

This spring Live Violence Free, in collaboration with a multitude of partners, has been fortunate enough to expand the annual Girls Empowerment Retreat and organize the first ever Boys Empowerment Event. With the generosity of funding from Soroptimist International of Tahoe Sierra and MacDuff’s Public House, Live Violence Free worked closely with South Tahoe Middle School to engage 7th and 8th grade girls and boys in discovering their true potential for greatness.

One can tell summer is here with the increased number of calls into the South Lake Tahoe Police Department. If keeping drivers, pedestrians and cyclists safe weren’t enough, officers responded to several out of the usual type of calls this weekend.

South Lake Tahoe Police Chief Brian Uhler has written the following in response to an opinion piece written by South Tahoe High junior Noah Jackson that was posted on South Tahoe Now June 9 concerning massage parlors.

On September 12, 2001, advertising luminary Allen Kay coined the phrase, “If you see something, say something.”[1] In the wake of horrific events the day before, Kay recognized that no matter how well trained, equipped and staffed, law enforcement can’t do it alone. Within a relatively short period of time, the slogan was plastered on New York City transit vehicles. Over time, the Law Enforcement and Homeland Security slogan has become so well known it has been described as the equivalent of Nike’s “Just do it” advertisement.[2]

To improve security at the South Lake Tahoe Police Department, a new security fence is being installed.

In the plans since 2014, the black metal fence with three rows of razor wire at the top should be completed by the beginning of July.

"This is a need we've had for a long time," SLTPD Lt. Brian Williams told South Tahoe Now. "We received support from the City Council and City Manager, and the fence has been a long held desire for this department."

The South Lake Tahoe Police Department, in conjunction with Memorial Day and the National Peace Officer’s Memorial Week, held its annual award ceremony Thursday.

In a very moving ceremony, late SLTPD Officer Mark Hounsell was honored for distinguished service. Hounsell and his wife Jeanne were killed in a single vehicle crash October 17, 2015. Two memorial shadow boxes were presented, one staying at the police department, the other going to the Hounsell's place of worship, Lifepoint Church in Minden, Nev.

A Stockton, Calif., man was arrested in South Lake Tahoe on May 14 after allegedly being found with rifles modified to act like fully automatic machine guns, which is a felony.

Justin Wigley, 31, was arrested after officers from the South Lake Tahoe Police Department were investigating a case involving a gun being discharged at a motel in the 1100 block of Emerald Bay Road.

The following is a recap of activity the South Lake Tahoe Police Department responded to 194 calls between May 3 and May 9, 2016.

Calls Resulting in Arrests:

5/3
"Other" Misdemeanor in the 2400 block of Lake Tahoe Blvd

5/4
"Other" Midemeanor in the 2100 block of South Ave
Unlicensed driver in the 2900 block of Sacramento Ave

5/5
Warrant in the 3100 block of Harrison Ave

5/6

Even though the bike paths through South Lake Tahoe are relatively safe, those using them should exercise caution at all times and be aware of their surroundings, especially when going by areas of thick brush and low lighting.

After the May 4, 2016 stabbing of two men on the isolated section of bike trail behind Meeks Lumber, SLTPD Lt. Brian Williams offered that advice for the bikers and walkers that utilize the trails.

Two South Lake Tahoe men were stabbed on Wednesday, May 4, 2016 on the bike path behind Meek's Lumber by two unknown assailants who have not yet been apprehended.

Four people were cited for selling alcohol to minors on April 29 during a compliance sting by the South Lake Tahoe Police Department.

During the operation, minors under the direct supervision of officers, attempted to purchase alcohol from ten retail licensees in the city limits.

40 percent of those businesses sold alcohol to the teen decoys. Clerks at Safeway Gas, Chevron Gas, Whiskey Dicks and Chevy's Restaurant were all cited and face a minimum fine of $250, and/or 24 to 32 hours of community service for a first violation.

What does a police officer do after they retire?

Hunt for Bigfoot, of course.

That is what South Lake Tahoe Police Officer Donna Kingman said she'll be doing after hanging up her shield after 29 years of working in the community. Her official last day is April 30, but Thursday was her last shift working in uniform.

Of course, she won't be hunting for Bigfoot in cold, shaded areas as she'll be seeking sun and a life of being "footloose and fancy free."

Bread & Broth 4 Kids is holding their second Cram-A-Cruiser event at the Grocery Outlet on Saturday, April 30, 2016 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

The non-profit fills up bags of food every Friday for 120 South Lake Tahoe children who are in need of extra food over the weekend when they aren't able to receive the free lunches and breakfasts offered at school.

A South Lake Tahoe Police car will be in the parking lot in front of the store and the object will be to fill it up with as much food as possible that will be going into the kid's bags.

The Barton Foundation has $50,000 to give away in grant funding to groups in the South Lake Tahoe area who work to improve community health.

During their annual grant cycles, Barton provides funds to programs and organizations, and this year they will award grants to those who address mental health, substance abuse, and access to healthcare services.