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Police: Black Doll Found Hanging From Power Lines In South Lake Tahoe Neighborhood

SOUTH LAKE TAHOE (CBS13) — A black doll was found hanging from power lines in a South Lake Tahoe neighborhood Tuesday, police confirm.

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Police found the black doll hanging from a power line with a string around its neck. (credit: South Lake Tahoe Police)

Police found the black doll hanging from a power line with a string around its neck. (credit: South Lake Tahoe Police)

According to the South Lake Tahoe police department, the doll was found in the Sierra Tract neighborhood hanging with a string around its neck. Officers worked with Liberty Energy to remove the doll.

The doll was found hanging at the intersection of Rose Avenue and Lodi Avenue.  Kevin Brunner, the founder of the local Black Lives Matter chapter, said the images were both emotional and frustrating to see.

"To see the progress that we have had with these peaceful protest, the support we have had with our community, with our political city leaders and our police department, and then to see this was sickening. It hurt my heart because South Lake Tahoe is a beautiful place and with beautiful people in it," Brunner said.

The doll was found after the city and police met with Black Lives Matter and other community members to discuss race relations in the city.

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"It was really a beautiful thing and beautiful progress for our needs that we've been asking for. So, I don't understand why someone would want to do something so horrific," he said.

Police are not connecting the two events, but are aware of the timing.

"I'm not tying the two together, but the time frame is there and it is kind of obvious," said Lt. Shannon Laney.

Police are investigating this as a hate incident and say it does not amount to a hate crime at this time because no specific person was targeted. Police said there are no African American families that live in the direct neighborhood where the doll was found.

"That is not acceptable in our community. That is not something that South Lake Tahoe stands for, our police department stands for and that is not the message we want out there," explained Lt. Shannon Laney

Investigators have not identified any witnesses or leads. Investigators do not know how long the doll has been hanging from the power lines but say they are taking the investigation seriously.

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"If there is another case where it actually is a family's home or somebody's business or directed specifically against another person, that we already have the information we need to make a case against him," said Laney.

The last time police responded to a hate incident involving race was two years ago, according to Lt.Lanney. At that time, police responded to an image of a Swastika spray-painted near a homeless camp in the area.

"We just don't see that in our community. So, that's why when you do see it you are taken back," he said.

Skyler Smith who lives near the intersection where the doll was found and is upset the incident happened in his community.

"It's definitely disturbing. It's like a bug f-you, if you will, to the community. I like to think that we are excepting and open minds up here in Tahoe. It's definitely upsetting to see that in a place I call home," Smith said.

Brunner said he is continuing to work with the city and police to see progress in the city.

"I'm not scared, we are not scared. You are still going to see us bringing peace and making change," he said.

Police are asking anyone with information about this incident to contact their department at 530-542-6100.

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