Tip leads to man in police car ramming

An anonymous tip led to the arrest Wednesday of a man who allegedly hit an unmarked Douglas County Sheriff's Office vehicle while fleeing from an attempted drug bust on Monday.

South Lake Tahoe Police, Douglas County Sheriff's deputies and agents from the South Lake El Dorado Narcotics Enforcement Team arrested Jamaal Mansoor Eslami, 27, at a home in the 900 block of Alameda Ave. around 4:30 p.m. Wednesday, said SLEDNET agent Brandon Auxier.

Eslami allegedly tried to hide behind the open front door of the residence when officers arrived, but did not resist arrest when officers discovered him, Auxier said.

Around 11:40 a.m. on Monday, Eslami fled from deputies conducting a sting operation involving methamphetamine sales on Market Street, Douglas County Sheriff's Sgt. Jim Halsey said in an e-mail.

After deputies identified themselves, Eslami allegedly sped off in his green Cadillac Deville and ditched approximately three ounces of methamphetamine, which was recovered by deputies, Halsey said.

Eslami rammed an unmarked police car during his escape, causing minor damage to the bumper, Halsey said.

An officer inside the car was unharmed, Halsey said.

Two women who were with Eslami at the residence on Alameda Avenue at the time of his arrest are not suspected of involvement in Eslami's alleged drug sales.

Following his arrest, Eslami was booked into El Dorado County Jail in South Lake Tahoe on suspicion of methamphetamine trafficking, methamphetamine sales, assaulting a peace officer, and felony reckless driving.

He will be extradited to Nevada to face charges, Auxier said.