Arrests made in post-fireworks crowd control incident

Several people were arrested or cited after the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office and the South Lake Tahoe Police Department responded to a crowd control incident on the Stateline Avenue sidewalk between Harrah’s Casino and Embassy Suites Hotel after the Fourth of July fireworks display.

DCSO took the original call and said they were assisting a man who was not breathing after being involved in a fight when several people in the crowd began yelling at and pushing the officers. The police detained two men and called for assistance after the crowd of mostly teenagers swelled to more than 100 people. Approximately 15 DCSO deputies responded, including officers from patrol and crowd control teams deployed at Nevada Beach and Round Hill, DCSO Sgt. Jim Halsey told Lake Tahoe News.

About 15 SLTPD officers also responded.

“We responded with everyone we could get there because it was a dangerous situation,” said SLTPD Lt. Brian Williams. “It was turning into a mob scenario.”

SLTPD arrested or cited several people for criminal violations, including battery on a peace officer. One DCSO deputy sustained an injury to his knee.

The DCSO said crowds at the beaches and elsewhere during the holiday presented fewer problems. During the entire day, 21 persons were arrested by DCSO police with charges of battery, trespassing, larceny, minor consuming alcohol and other charges.

SLTPD said it made 22 arrests, including five for DUI, nine for public intoxication and other alcohol-related offenses and two for drug offenses. During the same time period, from noon on July 4 to 6am today, 201 calls for service came in, primarily in response to fights, said SLTPD.

— Lake Tahoe News staff report