enforcement

An appreciation of all of the law enforcement agencies that are assigned to protect the South Shore of the Lake Tahoe Basin will be the focus of Law Enforcement Day at Lakeview Commons in South Lake Tahoe on Thurday, September 15 at 5:00 p.m.

The public is invited to show support of the the men and women of the California Highway Patrol, Douglas County Sheriff's Office, El Dorado County Probation, El Dorado County Sheriff including STAR and SAR, the FBI (South Lake Tahoe Division), SLEDNET, South Lake Tahoe Police Department and USFS Law Enforcement.

South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue and other area fire departments have responded to several illegal cooking fires in homeless encampments this summer, some which have spread to burn up to several hundred feet.

The cause of the July 19 fires behind the power station by the Heavenly Gondola and in the Trout Creek area behind Ross are still under investigation, but sources have said they were both most likely started by illegal campfires. Fire crews also responded to transient camp fires on July 27 and August 8 as well as several illegal cooking fires.

A South Lake Tahoe man is behind bars after being identified as a possible suspect in at least one of the recent assault crimes in the community.

Oscar Raygoza Huerta, 23 of South Lake Tahoe, was arrested on Friday, August 5 on charges of assault intent to commit mayhem or rape, a felony. He is currently in the El Dorado County jail on a $100,000 bail hold.

Last week, South Lake Tahoe Police detectives released sketches of the suspect created after interviews with two of the victims. Leads from those photos led to the arrest.

Marijuana Brownie Incident - During the last weekend of July, a group of women visited South Lake Tahoe for a bachelorette party. During the visit, the women willfully ingested marijuana brownies they obtained through a ride-share company. Within a few hours, 10 of the women were taken to the emergency room in South Lake Tahoe. Eight of the ten were later admitted to the hospital for treatment. While many would have you believe marijuana is a harmless drug, those of us in the public safety arena have seen increases in medical emergencies from marijuana ingestion.

Fifteen officers from three Northern Nevada agencies recently completed "Operation Safe Streets," putting them in touch with dozens of high risk offenders in the Carson City, Douglas County, Washoe County and Lyon County areas.

Nevada Department of Public Safety- Division of Parole and Probation in collaboration with the Carson City Sheriff’s Office, and the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office made the contacts on July 29 and July 30, resulting in 11 arrests.

There will soon be a new ordinance in the City of South Lake Tahoe that will regulate massages, massage establishments and massage therapists.

"We will be raising the level of standards to legitimize the industry," said Mayor Wendy David.

There are currently 125 licensed massage therapists in the City, and an unknown number of people who are not. The new ordinance will be in place to make all comply and be licensed therapists in 90 days, or they cannot conduct business.

Ted Kennedy continues to show his appreciation for local heroes through his South Lake Tahoe restaurants.

Kennedy, who on the ownership team of Base Camp Pizza, California Burger, Azul Latin Kitchen and now, the Lakeside Beach House, shows gratitude on a weekly basis. Those in uniform and teachers get a free meal at any of his four restaurants (police officers, sheriff's deputies, fire personnel, nurses and those on active duty).

"This is to thank them, and show that we appreciate their service," said Kennedy. "They are our local heroes."

Larry Ford will present “Virgil Earp: The Gunfight at the O.K. Corral” at the Dangberg Home Ranch Historic Park on Wednesday, July 20, at 6:30 pm.

Location

The most common misunderstanding about swimming in Lake Tahoe is that people can suffer from hypothermia, which leads to death. The real truth is that "cold water shock" will kill much quicker than hypothermia ever will.

"The sudden lowering of skin temperature on immersion in cold water represents one of the most profound stimuli that the body can encounter." Golden and Tipton in Essentials of Sea Survival

The Nevada Department of Wildlife is increasing their educational campaign for boaters and swimmers to understand the dangers of cold water at Lake Tahoe.

Tens of thousands of people will be enjoying the Lights on the Lake fireworks show over Lake Tahoe Monday, most of them unaware of the hundreds of hours of work put into their enjoyment.

"We love out job," said Zambelli Fireworks Western Region Project Manager John Hagan. "We can use explosives to make people happy."

Zambelli is the company hired to produce the 25 minute pyrotechnic show over Lake Tahoe on July 4, starting at 9:45 p.m.

Fire and law enforcement officers across the State are working together to confiscate illegal fireworks and get them off the street. In Placer County, an announced inspection of all vehicles going through the Truckee agricultural station netted 1,882 pounds of illegal fireworks, resulting in 20 misdemeanor citations and seven felony arrests.

In another operation, CAL FIRE joined a multi-agency fireworks seizure operation in San Bernardino County that resulted in the confiscation of 25,406 pounds of illegal fireworks, 51 misdemeanor citations issued, as well as two felony arrests.

The El Dorado County Sheriff's Office has released the identity of the man found dead in the forest behind Barton Hospital on June 25.

The decomposing body of 29-year-old Inyowen John Shelton, a resident of South Lake Tahoe, was found by people walking in the area Saturday. It is still unclear to law enforcement how he died and the death is called “suspicious.”

Many friends were leaving comments of disbelief and sadness on Facebook once they heard the 2004 South Tahoe High graduate was the man who died.

"Swim Smart, Swim Safe: know the dangers of cold water" is the message coming from agencies responsible for boating and water safety on Lake Tahoe, especially after the recent deaths in the lake of two healthy men.

Drowning incidents from boating, paddling and swimming often share the same cause, "cold water shock," an involuntary gasp reflex caused by sudden immersion in cold water. Swimmers and boaters suddenly exposed to the cold waters of Lake Tahoe may experience rapid breathing, gasping, fainting, muscle failure and immediate risk of drowning.

As the summer recreational boating season gets into full swing, several law enforcement agencies are ramping up enforcement of boating under the influence laws on Lake Tahoe and other bodies of water. This is all part of a national safety campaign that begins this weekend, June 25 and 26 to heighten awareness and enforcement. Operation Dry Water focuses on deterring boaters from boating under the influence of alcohol or drugs.

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.

Many people find law enforcement officers intimidating and unapproachable, so the South Lake Tahoe CHP office is holding "Coffee with a Cop" on Friday, June 24 starting at 9:00 a.m. at Alpina Coffee Cafe on Emerald Bay Road.

All community members are invited to stop by and chat, discuss community issues, have coffee, and build relationships.

Coffee with a Cop provides a unique opportunity for community members to ask questions and learn more about the Department’s work in El Dorado County’s neighborhoods.

In the early morning hours of June 10, 1991, 11-year-old Jaycee Lee Dugard was walking to the school bus stop in South Lake Tahoe when Philip and Nancy Garrido abducted her and imprisoned her for 18 years in the back yard of their Antioch California home. The only clues came from the sole eye witness to the kidnapping, Carl Probyn – Jaycee’s step father, who provided information on the car and one of the occupants.

Massage parlors are formally known for giving massages as well as allowing an opportunity for relaxation, however, local massage parlors have recently been accused of giving “happy endings” at the end of their sessions, which is considered prostitution. Without question, this activity is giving our beautiful town a bad reputation, creating the possibility of an economic downturn, and an increase in local crime.

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]

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.

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.

5/15
7:59 a.m. - Failure to register as an arsonist - South Lake Tahoe

11:00 a.m. - Search and Rescue - Lake of the Woods - SEARCH AND RESCUE INITIATED FOR AN INJURED 71-YEAR-OLD MALE HIKER.

All six deputies involved in the July 2015 shooting of Mark Perkins have been cleared of any criminal wrongdoing according to the Douglas County District Attorney, Mark Jackson.

At 2:00 p.m. on July 30, Douglas County Sheriff's deputies responded to the Gardnerville Ranchos after receiving a call saying the 48-year-old Perkins was armed with multiple weapons and had threatened his wife and told her he was going to shoot a police officer and kill a neighbor.

Sheriff Ron Pierini has announced the recent graduation of two Douglas County Sheriff’s Deputies from the State of Nevada Peace Officer Standards and Training (P.O.S.T.) Law Enforcement Academy.

Douglas County Sheriff’s Office Deputies Jose Guerra and Bruce Jacobsen graduated from the academy on Thursday, May 12 after attending the academy at the State of Nevada Stewart Training Facility in Carson City for four months.

An award-winning musician and producer was arrested Thursday near a Lake Tahoe casino after drug enforcement officers found nearly 58 grams of methamphetamine on the man, according to a Tri-NET task force officer.