On 05/18/15 members of the El Dorado Gang Enforcement Detail, often referred to as EDGE, contacted several gang members at their homes. Participating in the operation were members of the Sheriff’s Office, El Dorado County Probation, El Dorado County District Attorney’s Office, and South Lake Tahoe Police Department.

At about 1:00 PM, EDGE Officers went to an apartment off of Schnell School Road in Placerville to serve an arrest warrant on 42 year-old Charles Sinclair. At the residence, several BB guns were recovered. All had been modified to look like real firearms. Sinclair was taken into custody for the warrant and transported to the El Dorado County Jail.

At about 3:30 PM, EDGE Officers contacted 30 year-old Fabio Soto at his residence in the 4700 block of Patterson Drive in Diamond Springs. During a search, illegal drugs were located. Soto was arrested for possession of narcotics, possession of narcotics for sale, and felonious criminal conduct by a gang member. He is still in custody at the Jail.

At about 4:00 PM, EDGE Officers contacted 33 year-old Jessie Mercado in his room in an apartment complex in the 300 block of Pleasant Valley Road in Diamond Springs. Mercado was arrested and booked into the County Jail on possession of narcotics and paraphernalia charges. He is still in custody.

At about 7:55 PM, EDGE Officers went to a residence in the 3000 block of Omo Ranch Road in Mount Aukum to serve an arrest warrant on 35 year-old Dana Franklin. On their arrival, Franklin fled from the barn on foot. Deputies tracked Franklin to a neighbor’s storage unit. Inside the unit they found Franklin and took him into custody without incident. He was transported and booked into the El Dorado County Jail where he is still in custody without bail.

Lt. Tom Murdoch

Booking photo of Charles Sinclair

Booking photo of Fabio Soto

Booking photo of Jessie Mercado

Booking photo of Dana Franklin

On 05/17/2015 at approximately 5:00PM, El Dorado County Sheriff’s Deputies responded to a report of a dead body in the area of Weber Creek.  The body was located in a rocky area amongst many trees and bushes near Helmrich Lane in Placerville.  The body had initially been located by two juveniles who were walking in the area and was in poor condition.

Coroner Detectives have determined that the decedent was a white female adult who was approximately 60-70 years of age. An autopsy was conducted and no signs of foul play were present. Coroner Detectives have been working to identify the decedent.

On May 19, 2015, Douglas County Sheriff’s Office responded to a 911 hangup at a residence in Minden, NV.  During their investigation, Douglas County Sheriff’s Deputies located what they believed to be controlled substance paraphernalia.  Suspecting drug activity by the occupants, the Douglas County Deputies continued their investigation and detained the occupants, El Dorado County Sheriff’s Deputy Mark Zlendick and an unidentified female.  As a result of their investigation, Deputy Zlendick was arrested for drug related charges and booked into the Douglas County Jail in Nevada.  Deputy Zlendick posted bail and was released.  Deputy Zlendick, employed since 2004, has been placed on paid administrative leave pending the outcome of the ongoing investigation.  This is an ongoing criminal investigation being conducted by the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office.  Any questions related to the investigation and arrest should be directed to Douglas County Press Information Officer Pat Brooks at 775-782-9931.