Police use tear gas to arrest knife attacker in South Lake Tahoe

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE – Police said they used tear gas to arrest a suspect in a stabbing attack in South Lake Tahoe on Saturday.

South Lake Tahoe Police responded to Barton Hospital around 11:15 a.m. for a report that a person had been stabbed multiple times.

Officers identified the suspect as 43-year-old David Valenzuela and attempted to contact him at his home on Lapham Drive.

According to police, he refused to come out and surrender, so SWAT and crisis negotiation teams rushed to the scene.

An arrest and search warrant was issued, but Valenzuela refused to comply, police said. Police then used tear gas, after which the suspect left the house and was arrested.

He was taken to jail for assault with a deadly weapon and resisting arrest.

The victim’s condition in the hospital is stable.