On 12/20/15 the El Dorado County Search and Rescue Team (SAR) conducted a shoreline search in an effort to locate any human remains that may have been uncovered due to the low water levels in Folsom Lake. This search was conducted as a followup to the remains that were located in November by citizens walking along the lake shore. The first volunteers deployed were CARDA dogs followed up by ground teams. We had about 35 members involved in the search. One bone of interest was located and turned over to the detective bureau for identification.

The Sheriff’s Office strives to solve crimes and protect the public. This search was conducted to ensure that both of these goals were met. Sheriff D’Agostini would like to thank our SAR volunteers for their selfless efforts in serving others.

Sgt. Todd Hammitt

On Friday 12/11/15 the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office Search and Rescue Team (SAR) based in South Lake Tahoe, responded to rescue a snowboarder who had ventured off into the back-country from Heavenly Valley Ski Resort.

41 year-old, Pavel Kletsov, left the boundaries of Heavenly Valley Ski Resort and ended up in the Cold Creek Drainage, just above Montgomery Estates. Due to the fresh new snow and terrain, Kletsov got stuck and could not get out on his own.

Twelve Search and Rescue Volunteers on Ski’s, Snowmobiles and Snowshoes made their way into the wilderness and located Kletsov almost 4 miles in. Temperatures that evening were in the teens making the incident highest of urgency. GPS coordinates from a 911 call were used to identify Kletsov’s location. SAR Volunteers located Kletsov and brought him out safely.

Search and Rescue Teams throughout the area would like to remind all back-country enthusiast to be prepared, have a plan and stick to their plan. Do not use Ski Resorts to access the back-country unless you are experienced, fully equipped, and prepared to navigate in back-country conditions.

On 12/18/15 at about 1:50PM, sheriff’s deputies responded to a neighbor dispute in Greenwood. An involved person called the Sheriff’s Office reporting his neighbor, William Dekker, threatened to shoot him during a dispute over a loose dog.

Deputies went to contact Dekker about the dispute and flagged him down, as he was driving by. As they talked, deputies thought Dekker might have been drinking and conducted several field sobriety tests. After the tests, deputies arrested the 60 year-old Dekker for suspicion of driving under the influence of alcohol (DUI) and booked him into the El Dorado County Jail. He was later released on a $5,000.00 bond.

Lt. Tom Murdoch