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SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Followers of South Tahoe Now's police log have long known that the number of local auto thefts has been a concern of the South Lake Tahoe Police Department (SLTPD) for the last several years, but they are now seeing a disturbing trend with a large spike in the crime over the past year.

In 2018 SLTPD investigated 70 auto thefts, with 60 of them being crimes committed in the city limits. This reflects as 30 percent increase in the thefts in the last two years, 52 percent since 2008.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - It's almost a perfect storm for traffic in Lake Tahoe: extra visitors in town for the holiday weekend and epic ski conditions with snow and chain requirements over US50 and Echo Summit.

On Monday, locals and visitors alike were part of that storm, leaving motorists stranded along US 50, Lake Tahoe Blvd., and all surface streets in Meyers that have a link to the highway over Echo Summit.

The following is a recap of activity for the South Lake Tahoe Police Department from January 11 - 17, 2019. They responded to 282 calls during this period. Last week's report for January 3 - 10, 2019.

Calls Resulting in Arrests/Citations:

1/11 - 39 calls
Warrant in the 900 block of Emerald Bay Rd
Drug Offense in the 1300 block of Kyburz

1/12 - 43 calls
Burglary in the 900 block of Bal Bijou Rd
DUI in the 1000 block of Emerald Bay Rd

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Nev. - The Douglas County Sheriff's Office announced two promotions and a new reserve deputy today.

Longtime Douglas County resident Ron Michitarian was promoted from the rank of sergeant to captain, a duty he will start on January 26. He was presented his badge by his son, Douglas County Sheriff’s Deputy Connor Michitarian.

Also effective on January 26, Investigator Nadine Chrzanowski will be promoted to the rank of Sergeant. Sergeant Chrzanowski was presented her badge by Sheriff Coverley.

RENO, Nev. - Keeping the community safe is the number one priority of law enforcement working on four recent murders in Reno and Douglas County. This was the message from Washoe County Sheriff Darin Balaam during a press conference late Thursday afternoon.

Two elderly people, a man and a woman, were killed in a home in southwest Reno. Their bodies were discovered on January 16 after concerned neighbors called law enforcement after not seeing the residents. Their names and ages have not been released pending notification of next of kin.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Tahoe Coalition for the Homeless is hosting an open house at the South Lake Tahoe Warm Room on February 7, 2019 from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. The event will begin with tours of the Warm Room from 3:00 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

The Warm Room is the overnight emergency shelter we operate each winter to give our homeless neighbors respite from the worst of the winter weather. This year the Warm Room is located at 1201 Emerald Bay Road in South Lake Tahoe, next door to Ernie’s Coffee Shop.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - A 71-year-old local man has been arrested for the murder of his 65-year-old female roommate.

James Byron Cleveland was arrested by the South Lake Tahoe Police Department (SLTPD) after they responded to a Carson Avenue residence on a call of an injured woman on Sunday, January 13, 2019.

The following is a recap of activity for the South Lake Tahoe Police Department from January 3 - 10, 2019. They responded to 221 calls during this period. Last week's report for December 20, 2018 - January 2, 2019.

Calls Resulting in Arrests/Citations:

1/3 - 29 calls

Driving on a suspended/revoked license in the 3400 block of Lake Tahoe Blvd.
Warrant in the 3500 block of Lake Tahoe Blvd.
Felony "Other" in the 2600 block of Lake Tahoe Blvd.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - One man has been arrested in connection with Friday's house fire on Kyburz Avenue in South Lake Tahoe.

Joe Johnson, 37, was arrested on a felony charge of manufacturing a controlled substance and a misdemeanor charge of obstruction of a police officer.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - A fire at the Lake Tahoe Community Presbyterian Church on Wednesday evening caused an estimated $50,000 in damage according to South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue (SLTFR).

At 6:20 p.m. on January 9, a call was received by the police department's dispatch center about a fire at the church, located at 2733 Lake Tahoe Blvd. Not only did two engines, a squad truck and battalion chief respond for SLTFR, Lake Valley Fire sent in an engine and battalion chief and Tahoe Douglas Fire contributed a fire truck, ambulance and chief.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - The following are the 177 incidents the South Lake Tahoe Fire Rescue and Cal-Tahoe JPA ambulances responded to from Dec. 21-31, 2018:

12/21

02:15 - 800 block of Rubicon Tr - EMS call, excluding vehicle accident with injury
02:33 - 1000 block of 4th St - EMS call, excluding vehicle accident with injury
06:02 - 1800 block of Lake Tahoe Blvd - EMS call, excluding vehicle accident with injury
14:00 - 900 block of Lakeview Ave - Police matter
15:11 - 1100 block of US Hwy 50 - EMS call, Interfacility Transfer

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - An estimated 20,000 visitors attended the 8th annual SnowGlobe Music Festival in South Lake Tahoe which was held over three days, December 29-31, 2018.

The South Lake Tahoe Police Department (SLTPD) called this year's event the best they’ve had from a violation and enforcement standpoint. They said there were no significant problems or issues of any kind.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - What started out as car crash involving a suspected drunk driver turned out much differently for the South Lake Tahoe Police Department (SLTPD) on New Year's Eve.

Officers responded to a report of a traffic collision in the 800 block of Los Angeles Avenue on December 31. Upon arrival they found that a Chevrolet Silverado had struck a parked car and a bear box. The driver, 33-year-old Victor Alfonso Ramos-Eucendo of South Lake Tahoe, appeared to be intoxicated.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Law enforcement and medical issues associated with the 2018 SnowGlobe Music Festival were down again on the event's second night, leading City of South Lake Tahoe staff to call the evening "another success."

After much concern from the community, staff has been working to alleviate concerns from them concerning noise and trouble for law enforcement.

Highlights of the second day include:

Monsignor Murrough Wallace, who served the South Lake Tahoe community at the St. Theresa Parish from 1993 to 2003, has been accused by a man who said Wallace and another priest sexually abused him in 1985 when he was 17.

The accuser, known as John Doe in court documents, said he was volunteering at Camp Pendola when the alleged abuse took place.

Due to the allegations, Wallace, who is now 82 and retired, had to withdraw from ministry until more facts could be gathered, according to Bishop Soto of the Sacramento Diocese.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Thousands of music fans and dozens of performers are headed to South Lake Tahoe for the 8th annual SnowGlobe Music Festival from December 29-31. Before they get here, hundreds of workers are spending many hours preparing the scene from the delivery and installation of stages, tents, electrical cables, ski jumps, trailers, vehicles and port-a-potties.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - A scammer attempted to get money out of a South Lake Tahoe business owner on Thursday, December 20 by pretending to be from the South Lake Tahoe Police Department (SLTPD).

The call came into the business from what looked like the police department's main phone line. The person on the other end told the owner he owed money on old credit cards and would be arrested if he didn’t pay up. The caller gave him a number to call, 512-333-2304, and when he called they asked for $1985.

He hung up and called police.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - A South Lake Tahoe man is behind bars after being charged with three different burglaries of the Deerfield Lodge and possession of methamphetamines.

31-year-old Johnathan Adam Towne was arrested on December 16 after allegedly stealing $100 worth of towels and coffee pods on November 28 and $300 in sheets, towels, robes and toilet paper on December 8. On December 15 he was caught inside a room by hotel guests where he allegedly was stealing more coffee pods and hotel candy.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Six families in South Lake Tahoe don't know where they will be spending Christmas after receiving notice Wednesday that the apartment building they've been calling home was found to be unsafe, giving them until Monday, December 17 to find a place to live.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - It was a normal day of skiing in South Lake Tahoe on Friday, December 7, 2018 for a couple from Oakland, California. They had parked their car on the top floor of the five-story parking garage at Heavenly Village, left their two dogs Titan and Comet inside and hit the slopes for three hours.

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Get your holiday spirit on (along with your running shoes or snowboots) for the first ever Santa Fun Run on Ski Run on Saturday, December 15, 2018.

Come dressed in your best and most festive Kris Kringle outfit and join in the winter fun, all for a good cause. All proceeds will benefit the local non-profit, SOS Outreach.

The following is a recap of activity for the South Lake Tahoe Police Department from October 18-November 17. They responded to 868 calls during this period.

Calls Resulting in Arrests/Citations:

10/18 - 41 calls for the day
No Arrests

10/19 - 29 calls for the day
DUI in the 2500 block of Lake Tahoe Blvd
Unlicensed driver in the 3000 block of Lake Tahoe Blvd

10/20 - 31 calls for the day
DUI in the 1000 block of Lodi Ave
Unlicensed Driver in the 1200 block of Kyburz
Driving on a Suspended/Revoked License at Blackwood and Pioneer

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE, Calif. - Even though she was sentenced to six months in jail after taking a plea deal for her embezzlement of almost $60,000, Niki Congero, the former executive director of the Lake Tahoe Humane Society, has been released and is now back in Tennessee a free woman.

She was in the El Dorado County Jail from August 1 to October 28, a total of 89 days. Her jail term started the day of her arrest in Tennessee.

Art has a way of making the creator immortal. Such is the case with Ed Laine.

The longtime South Lake Tahoe resident died Nov. 8, 2018, at home. He was 87.

Beyond a large family and rich trove of friends, Ed leaves behind a legacy as an artist. He was a quiet man who for years let his voice be heard through his work.

Born in Palo Alto on Oct. 17, 1931, to Selma Alquist and John Laine, Ed grew up in the Bay Area, having graduated from Sequoia Union High School in 1950. He attended San Jose State College, Cal Arts and the University of Oregon. In Oregon he majored in art.