Tahoe man busted for pounds of pot after pepper spraying homeless man

A 20-year-old South Lake Tahoe man was arrested Monday on felony drug charges after he allegedly used pepper spray on a homeless man and then called 911 dispatch to report what he had done, a Carson City sheriff’s deputy said.

Logan Thomas Snyder was taken into custody after officers found nearly 2.5 pounds of marijuana on him, hashish oil, THC candy as well as methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia and evidence of a drug grow operation. He was charged with possession of a controlled substance with intent to sell and possession of meth, both felonies, and misdemeanor charges of battery and drug paraphernalia.

According to the arrest report, a deputy responded the 4000 block of South Carson Street at 4:19 p.m. after Snyder called 911 to report that he had been in a confrontation with a pan handler at a convenience store gas station. Snyder advised he had pepper sprayed the man’s face.

A deputy spoke with the local homeless man who explained the situation and advised that he was holding a sign asking for help while standing on Clearview Drive near the convenience store. The victim said Snyder pulled up next to him and began to shout and curse at him. The homeless man said he wasn’t looking for any trouble so he ignored Snyder and did not respond.

The victim said Snyder was in the parking lot of the convenience store for about 45 minutes and that a motorcycle rider had come up to the vehicle and then left. He said Snyder then pulled next to him with his shirt covering his nose and mouth and then, from his vehicle, sprayed him with pepper spray and then quickly drove off, the arrest report states.

Officers observed pepper spray stains on the victim, who said he was able to clean most of the spray off after the assault. He said Snyder’s behavior was erratic and that he wanted to press charges.

Another deputy interviewed the suspect, noting that Snyder was acting strange and made several odd comments, among them being “the homeless guy was just jealous of my hair,” the arrest report states.

The deputy repeatedly asked the suspect to tell his side of the story. Snyder said he pulled into the convenience store and said he shouted at the homeless man saying he should change his sign so he could possibly get more money. He said as he left the parking lot he drove by the homeless man on the way out. Snyder said he then put his shirt over his mouth and nose, noting that he knew the pepper spray would be airborne and didn’t want to get any in his face. He said he sprayed the homeless man in the face because he felt threatened by the man, the arrest report states.

The victim told officers that he never confronted or acted aggressively in any way toward the suspect and advised he is never pushy with anyone in the area. He said he acts respectfully while pan handling so he is not asked to leave the area, the arrest report states.

The deputy asked Snyder why he confronted the man. He said he didn’t know and continued to act strange. He kept a hand on the door handle of his vehicle and shook with nervousness and was generally worried looking, the report states. As he showed a deputy the pepper spray device from inside the vehicle, the deputy observed a large jar of marijuana in plain view. He was detained.

Deputies searched the vehicle and found a large amount of marijuana, which later weighed out to more than two pounds, plus marijuana seeds, THC candy, hashish oil, methamphetamine, drug paraphernalia and evidence of a marijuana grow, the arrest report states.

Deputies told Snyder he was in custody and read him his Miranda rights. He continued to act strangely through the encounter. He said he knew he made a mistake by having methamphetamine but did not think the marijuana was a big deal, even though some of it was clearly individually packaged and appeared ready for distribution, the arrest report states. The bail amount listed at the time of the arrest was $9,637. Snyder was released on $5,000 bail, according to a Carson City Sheriff's Office detention center deputy.