Truckee man accused of defacing cemetery

Truckee Police officers arrested a man they believe vandalized the Truckee Cemetery District on March 26.

Samuel Soto

Graffiti was found on the gazebo area and several markers were defaced.

Samuel Soto, 25, is the suspect. Officers went to the last known address of Soto and were told by family members that he was not there. Officers said family members told them they had asked Soto to leave several days before due to his increasingly bizarre and unpredictable behavior.

Late Saturday night an officer near the cemetery saw Soto walking away from there. He attempted to talk to Soto, waiting for additional units due to Soto’s prior behavior. As the officer was talking to him, Soto suddenly fled on foot, leading the officer on a foot chase.  A responding officer located Soto as he was fleeing from the first officer and took him into custody.

Soto was medically cleared and booked into jail felony vandalism to a cemetery, criminal threats to his family, burglary to an occupied residence and resisting arrest.  His bail was set at $52,500.

— Lake Tahoe News staff report