Out of town cops raid empty Tahoe house

Citrus Heights cops raided an empty house on the South Shore earlier this month.

Western Highland Mortgage owns the house on Guadalupe Street. An employee with the company said the house is vacant and for sale, and that “it was obviously a mistake” by the cops. He didn’t want to comment further.

Jeff Catchings, with the South Lake El Dorado Narcotics Enforcement Team, said the Citrus Heights officers were following up on a case that involved a drug lab explosion. He told Lake Tahoe News one of the suspects in that case used to live in the El Dorado County house.

The lead detective from Citrus Heights Police Department was not available for comment.

El Dorado County sheriff’s deputies were on scene when this went down. Lt. Pete Van Arnum said it’s a courtesy among agencies to let another one know when a search warrant will be executed.

When a search warrant is executed officers surround the house to secure the perimeter, if no one answers, then forced entry is allowed – as was the case June 19 at the Guadalupe house.

— Lake Tahoe News staff report