YOUR AD HERE »

Lighter shaped like gun leads to arrest

Adam Jensen

At about 12:40 a.m. Friday, South Lake Tahoe police arrested a 57-year- old South Shore man on suspicion of shining a laser pointer at an officer and resisting arrest.

As a police officer in a patrol car passed the man on Tamarack Avenue, the man, who was on foot, yelled, “You better watch your back” and, “You better have your vest on,” according to Sgt. Brad Williams.

When the officer turned his patrol car around to investigate, the man reportedly shined a laser through the front windshield of the vehicle, Williams said.



The officer stopped the car, got out, drew his weapon and called for backup, Williams said.

The 57-year-old was subdued by officers, who allegedly discovered the laser was part of a cigarette lighter shaped like a handgun. In order to operate the laser pointer, the trigger of the lookalike handgun needed to be pulled.



Local law enforcement as well as officers from Reno have found the man in possession of weapons, including handguns, during previous arrests, Williams said. The man also has made threats against the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office, Williams added.


Support Local Journalism

Support Local Journalism

Readers around the Lake Tahoe Basin and beyond make the Tahoe Tribune's work possible. Your financial contribution supports our efforts to deliver quality, locally relevant journalism.

Now more than ever, your support is critical to help us keep our community informed about the evolving coronavirus pandemic and the impact it is having locally. Every contribution, however large or small, will make a difference.

Your donation will help us continue to cover COVID-19 and our other vital local news.