south lake tahoe police

The fourth annual Holiday Parade will make its way through South Lake Tahoe on Saturday, December 12 starting at 3:00 p.m.

Golden Bear Events is the organizer of the event which will raise money and food for Christmas Cheer, South Lake Tahoe's year-round food pantry.

This year, ten parade entries will start at the top of Ski Run Blvd, head down towards the lake, turn west on Highway 50 and end in the TJMaxx parking lot where people can enjoy cookies and a visit with Santa Claus. The parade should end there at approximately 3:45 p.m.

If you’re enjoying the holidays with a drink, South Lake Tahoe Police Department has a message for you: Drive Sober or Get Pulled Over. Due to the increase in drunk-driving-related fatalities around the holidays each year, law enforcement agencies across America will be actively searching for and arresting drunk drivers from December 18 to January 3.

The following is a recap of activity the South Lake Tahoe Police Department. The listed calls were responded to from November 19 to November 29, 2015.

Calls Resulting in Arrests:

11/19

Drunk in Public in the 2300 block of Lake Tahoe Blvd
Drunk in Public in the 1900 block of B Street

11/20

Warrant in the 2300 block of Lake Tahoe Blvd
Warrant in the 3500 block of Lake Tahoe Blvd
Drunk in Public in the 800 block of Stateline Ave
Probation/Parole Search at Emerald Bay Rd and 10th St

The South Tahoe Police Activities League (STPAL) would like to extend a thank you to the many community members, organizations and volunteers that made it possible to offer positive alternative activities to the youth of South Lake Tahoe this past summer.

STPAL reached over 60 local middle school-aged kids with the opportunity to learn lifelong skills in mountain biking, skateboarding, and golf alongside positive adult role models.

The South Tahoe High Sober Grad Night Task Force would like to thank the following businesses and individuals who helped make our annual event for the graduating seniors such a success! The kids loved the evening and it couldn't have been made possible if you weren't a part of it.

A 16-year-old South Lake Tahoe boy was walking on the bike path behind the Motel 6 on Monday, November 23 when he was robbed by a man who came out of the bushes. The teen was on the path at 1:30 p.m. when the suspect had his hand in his trench coat pocket, simulating a gun, and pointed it at the boy. The suspect demanded money and the young victim, who believed the man had a gun, gave him what he had. The teen was unharmed in the incident.

The unidentified suspect left the area on foot.

The victim described the suspect as:

-White male adult, between 6’00’’ and 6’03’’

El Dorado County Sheriff's Office responds to calls throughout the county.

The following are calls that only pertain to the South Shore. There may be some missing calls due to sheriff's logs not being completed at press time and the story will be updated when provided.

11/15

No Report

11/16

8:50 a.m. - Death Investigation - South Ave - A 75 YEAR OLD FEMALE WAS PRONOUNCED DECEASED AT BARTON HOSPITAL

South Lake Tahoe Police Department officers responded to a report of an armed robbery on Friday night at 7:10 p.m. in the area of the CVS Pharmacy and Tahoe Beach Retreat Hotel on Highway 50. Two adult males reported being robbed by a man brandishing a handgun and long-bladed knife.

As they arrived, officers received other reports of the suspect firing one round after robbing two other adult men at the rear of the hotel.

Thirty South Lake Tahoe non-profits were given a share of $55,600 on Thursday, bringing the total the American Century Golf Championships have donated to the community this year to $107,100.

"South Lake Tahoe, you should be proud of yourself."

Those words, said by South Lake Tahoe Police Sgt. Brian Williams, were echoed throughout the evening as the City of South Lake Tahoe celebrated its first 50 years with a golden anniversary gala Saturday night.

Almost 300 people were at the Lake Tahoe Resort Hotel to share memories of the past, review of the present, and a look towards the future of a city that was formed because many of the residents were tired of being represented by a government in Placerville.

The following is a recap of activity the South Lake Tahoe Police Department. They responded to 461 calls between October 16 and November 1, 2015.

Calls Resulting in Arrests:

10/16
Drunk in public in the 1000 block of Johnson Bl

10/17
DUI in the 900 block of Edgewood Circle
DUI in the 1900 block of Lake Tahoe Blvd
Warrant in the 4100 block of Lake Tahoe Blvd
Drunk in public at Lake Tahoe Blvd and Fremont Ave
Burglary in the 1000 block of Emerald Bay Rd
Warrant in the 2300 block of Lake Tahoe Blvd

Halloween night was a busy one for the South Lake Tahoe Police Department (SLTPD). Just as they were handling the arrest of seven people that were found with bandanas over their faces and guns and drugs in their car, officers were called to the scene of a stabbing.

While attending a party at a Silverwood Avenue vacation rental, 21-year-old Josh Boyer of South Lake Tahoe was stabbed multiple times during a fight with several other party attendees.

Halloween is often recognized as a holiday that offers just as much fun for adults as it does for children. Youngsters may look forward to a night of trick-or-treating, but many adults choose to partake in the festivities, too – oftentimes with alcohol included. While Halloween may be a spooky night, the California Office of Traffic Safety (OTS) and California Highway Patrol (CHP) want to help ensure that it is also a safe one. If you plan on making alcohol a part of your celebrations this year, designating a sober driver or finding a safe ride home should be a top priority.

A 24-year-old woman was arrested in South Lake Tahoe on suspicion of stealing a car on October 24 in Grizzly Flats, Calif. and driving it to the lake.

South Lake Tahoe Police Officers found Hannah Marie Taylor sitting in the driver's seat of a Silver 2002 Volkswagen Cabrio convertible on October 26 in the parking lot of the 7-11 store located at 3923 Pioneer Trail.

According to SLTPD, Taylor was known to the owner of the car.

Her bail was set at $25,000 and she is no longer in the El Dorado County Jail.

11/3/15 - Update - The scene of the crime has now been reported as the dead-end portion of Spruce Avenue.

Original Story:

Authorities have identified the suspected shooter in last week's drive-by shooting in South Lake Tahoe.

Samuel Tovar, 26, of South Lake Tahoe is wanted for shooting at a 19-year-old man who was standing in a lot near the corner of Highway 50 and Ski Run Boulevard just before midnight on October 14, 2015. Police were called when the unidentified victim showed up at Barton Hospital with gunshot wounds to his leg.

While the community is still in shock over the death of South Lake Tahoe Police Officer Mark Hounsell, his wife Jeanne and a family friend, a fundraising campaign has started to help their children as they move forward in life without a parent.

All four of Mark's children were in the 2004 Chevy Suburban on October 17, 2015 with Mark and Jeanne when, for unknown reasons, the vehicle left the roadway and crashed, killing all three adults inside.

During a special meeting of the South Lake Tahoe City Council on Monday, October 19, JoAnn Conner was publicly censured, a first of its kind for the City. An overflowing crowd spent over three hours in Council Chambers as comments were made both supporting Conner, and against what they said was "abusive, bullying and intolerant behavior."

It is with deep sadness and sorrow that we inform our South Lake Tahoe community and others of the passing of Officer Mark Hounsell and his wife Jeanne. Mark had served the citizens of South Lake Tahoe as a Police Officer since May 19, 2007.

A 19-year-old man was shot in the leg overnight, apparently the victim of a drive-by shooting near the intersection of Highway 50 and Ski Run Boulevard. Officers from the South Lake Tahoe Police Department were called to Barton Hospital just after midnight on the report of a man with a gunshot wound.

The unidentified man's injury is not life threatening according to SLTPD Lt. David Stevenson.

Since the shooting, police have recovered a truck near the "Y" that is suspected of being involved in the crime.

A man is being sought in South Lake Tahoe after an attempted abduction in the Stateline area on Saturday, October 10.

At 9:40 a.m., officers from the South Lake Tahoe Police Department responded to the area of Park and Cedar Avenues after getting a call about a suspicious man who approached a woman, telling her he'd shoot if she didn't go with him. He simulated a gun inside the pocket of his grey hooded sweatshirt.

The scared woman ran away and the suspect fled the area prior to the arrival of police.

As of Sunday evening, the only description of the male suspect is:

The following is a recap of activity the South Lake Tahoe Police Department. They responded to 206 calls over the one-week period between September 29 and October 5, 2015.

Calls Resulting in Arrests:

9/29
Drunk in Public in the 900 block of Park Ave
Battery in the 900 block of Brockway
Unlicensed Driver at Spruce and Gilmore Avenues
Drunk in Public in the 1200 block of Emerald Bay Rd

9/30
DUI in the 1200 block of Ski Run Blvd
Defrauding in the 2500 block of Lake Tahoe Blvd

Like many Americans, law enforcement folks have been deeply moved by the horrific images we have seen in Oregon. A certain feeling of helplessness has become the norm when we look at these events from the prevention perspective. We may ask questions like:

“Why do people who would do such a thing have access to a gun?”
“Why didn’t people who knew the shooter do something to stop him before people died?”

The following is a recap of activity the South Lake Tahoe Police Department responded to 426 calls over the two-week period between September 15 and September 28, 2015.

Calls Resulting in Arrests:

9/15
Drug Offense at Oakland and Tallac Ave
Warrant in the 3900 block of Pioneer Trail

9/16
Drug Offense at Heavenly Village Way and Lake Tahoe Blvd
Warrant at Spruce Ave and Champlain Dr

9/17
Drug Offense in the 1000 block of Emerald Bay Dr
Trespassing in the 3800 block of Lake Tahoe Blvd

In light of the recent ambushes and assignations of police officers across the country, communities in the U.S. celebrated the third "National Thank a Police Officer Day" on September 19.

South Lake Tahoe local Daniella Flatau tried to encourage people to support law enforcement by organizing the local celebration of a day meant to show those sworn to protect the public that people support them, especially in a day and age where violence against the police is increasing daily.