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Shooting suspect arrested after two-hour standoff

Axie Navas
anavas@tahoedailytribune
Axie Navas / Tahoe Daily TribuneLt. Brian Williams coordinates with other police Thursday at the Ambassador Motor Lodge, where suspect Agustin Bautista had barricaded himself in two of the first-floor rooms in the background.
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Agustin Bautista, the suspect wanted for questioning in a shooting that took place Friday, surrendered to police after a two-hour standoff Thursday on Manzanita Avenve.

Around noon, detectives spotted Bautista, 29, in the passenger seat of a black truck. They eventually followed the vehicle to the Ambassador Motor Lodge, arriving about 3 p.m.

After detectives saw Bautista enter room No. 27 with his girlfriend, they attempted to make contact with the suspect. Bautista barricaded himself in the room and knocked down the wall between rooms 27 and 28, Lt. Brian Williams said.



About 3:30 p.m., police arrived on scene, evacuated the lodge, closed off nearby streets and surrounded the premises.

“We know he’s in there and he knows we’re out here. When he knows we’re outside, and he’s not coming out, it’s a dangerous situation,” Lt. David Stevenson said.



Bautista’s attorney, William Cole, called the police about 5 p.m. and said he had Bautista on the phone. Bautista wanted to surrender, he said.

“He called a third party and that third party called us and said he wants to come out. This is a good ending. It’s perfect, assuming she’s OK,” Stevenson said before Bautista surrendered.

Bautista came out of the room at 5:28 p.m. and surrendered to police. He was arrested for violation of probation and for shooting into an inhabited dwelling and booked into the El Dorado County Jail.

Bautista’s girlfriend was not injured.

“The fact that he had guns at his house, the likelihood that he had firearms with him was high,” Williams said.

On Aug. 10, police responded to the 3100 block of Nevada Avenue for a report of gunshots being fired at 11:07 p.m. and found a vehicle and a home that had damage from gunfire. According to Stevenson, at least one person was inside the house at the time, but no injuries were reported. Witnesses stated that a black Dodge Charger and possibly a black SUV or truck were seen in the area. A handgun, a shotgun and the black Dodge Charger were later located near the “Y” area, Stevenson said Tuesday.

“I do know this guy has some ties to a well-established L.A gang making in-roads into this community,” Sgt. Brad Williams said. “From what I understand, it may be both gang- and drug-related. The detective is looking at if it’s related to other crimes in the area.”

– Editor Trisha Leonard contributed to this report.


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