SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. – The video of the moments leading up to the arrest of now-Mayor Cody Bass has been released, showing his actions at AleWorx in Stateline, Nev. On September 25, 2025, Bass, who was South Lake Tahoe’s mayor pro-tem at the time, walked by the bar/restaurant on the sidewalk and began talking to the bouncer. Bass says he was talking so he could “make amends” with the employee. The discussion soon became heated, as seen on the video, and Bass was later arrested.
“It is clear that I never entered the AleWorx establishment, making the trespass claim false,” Bass told South Tahoe Now. “I should not have been arrested. There is a verbal exchange between me and the employee that will need to be considered by Douglas County D.A.”
Bass says that if there were audio on this outside camera video, the public could hear that he started the conversation by making amends.
“I promise you,” said Bass of the intent.
We have viewed the police body cam video of his arrest and are waiting for a public records request for that footage to be shared. It is almost 27 minutes in length.
The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office deputy involved told Bass it was a “private party arrest” and they were arresting on behalf of AleWorx for a misdemeanor committed “not in their presence.”
He was initially arrested for assault, harassment and trespassing, but the Douglas County Sheriff and District Attorney issued a joint press release that they had removed the assault charge from the arrest, leaving two misdemeanor charges of trespassing and harassment.
During the October 21 City Council meeting, Bass was moved up to mayor after the resignation of Tamara Wallace, who admitted to embezzling money from the Lake Tahoe Presbyterian Church.
Bass’s first court appearance is scheduled for December.