Coast Guard heads off Tahoe escape attempt

A woman who braved the cold waters of Lake Tahoe rather than go to jail ended up being fished out of the water by the Coast Guard.

Watchstanders at the Coast Guard Sector San Francisco command center received a call at 5:50 p.m. Thursday, from Coast Guard Station Lake Tahoe, notifying the command center of a request for assistance from the Placer County Sheriff’s Office.

Sheriff’s deputies said a local woman swam 100 yards out from Kings Beach in an attempt to evade local authorities.

A boat crew and surface rescue swimmer from Coast Guard Station Lake Tahoe responded to the scene and retrieved the woman from the water.

She was then transferred to Emergency Medical Services and local authorities who were standing by to treat the woman for hypothermia and take her into custody.

The Coast Guard would like to remind swimmers and beachgoers despite the warm weather, the water temperature is still cold and unforgiving.

“Lake Tahoe can be very dangerous,” said Chief Petty Officer Daniel Polhemus, the officer in charge of Coast Guard Station Lake Tahoe. “The Coast Guard encourages citizens to remain cautious around the water and take proper safety precautions.”