A man who had already been in custody once last Saturday ended the day back behind bars, after authorities say he tried to set an American flag on fire outside the South Lake Tahoe Police Department. Deputies arrested him on suspicion of felony attempted arson and booked him into the county jail. Officials say he had been released earlier that same day following a separate arrest on suspicion of possession of drug paraphernalia and public intoxication.
According to The Sacramento Bee, El Dorado County deputies said the man was seen lowering the flag before trying to ignite it, a detail that circulated on social media. The Bee also reported that deputies believe the same man was taken into custody after separate calls earlier in the day, that he had been shooting arrows near a local YMCA.
Where he was booked
The suspect was booked into the El Dorado County Jail in South Lake Tahoe on suspicion of felony attempted arson, according to the county’s custody page. That facility handles bookings for the South Shore and is operated by the El Dorado County Sheriff’s Office. County pages list the agency’s custody and records units for public reference, per El Dorado County.
Arrest history
The sheriff’s office told reporters the man had been arrested six times by South Lake Tahoe police since April 2026 on charges that included possession of narcotics, possession of drug paraphernalia, being under the influence of a controlled substance and resisting arrest, according to The Sacramento Bee. Deputies said he had been released earlier Saturday after a separate booking on suspicion of possession of drug paraphernalia and public intoxication.
Legal note
Under California law, attempted arson is charged as a felony attempt to set fire to or burn property and is prosecuted under Penal Code Section 455. Jury instructions summarize the required elements for prosecutors and jurors, and Justia publishes CALCRIM No. 1520, which explains those basics. The U.S. Supreme Court has held that flag burning can be symbolic speech protected by the First Amendment in cases such as Texas v. Johnson, but that protection does not extend to dangerous or destructive conduct when it threatens people or property, as outlined by U.S. Courts.
Court filings and the county’s records unit will show whether prosecutors pursue formal charges and how the case moves forward. The sheriff’s office maintains booking and arrest reports for the county, and this story will be updated as new official information becomes available.
