Man accused of trying to ram police car with tractor

A 55-year-old Stateline man has been charged with felony assault with a deadly weapon, accused of trying to crash into a police cruiser while operating a front-end loader tractor under the influence.

Sgt. Brian Williams said there were no injuries in the 9 p.m. Sunday incident in South Lake Tahoe.

Steve Beattie was booked in El Dorado County Jail on $50,000 bail following his arrest near a Ski Run Boulevard apartment complex where he was doing snow removal.

"He also admitted to using illicit drugs and to conducting snow removal operations without sleep for several consecutive days," Williams said.

Witnesses called the South Lake Tahoe Police Depart-ment shortly before 9 p.m. Sunday to report that Beattie had knocked down a light standard and traffic control sign while clearing snow.

Officers Jake Herminghaus and Ray Poole responded to a report of a DUI driver in a large front-end loader tractor. The officers attempted to perform a traffic stop, but Beattie refused to yield to the lights and sirens of the two patrol vehicles.

Instead, he allegedly lowered the loader's bucket and drove directly toward Poole, still seated inside his patrol vehicle.

"The bucket was now approximately head level to Officer Poole," Williams said. "Officer Poole quickly backed his patrol vehicle in an attempt to escape the intended impact. Due to a snow berm, Officer Poole was able to back only a few feet, but this was just enough so that the loader barely missed an impact with his patrol vehicle."

Williams said Beattie continued to drive the loader on Terry Lane, which is a dead end. He stopped the loader and after several minutes of receiving police commands, Beattie began to exit but remained uncooperative.

Williams said officers had to physically restrain Beattie on the ground to take him into custody.

Beattie was charged with misdemeanor driving under the influence of alcohol and drugs, a felony charge of assault with a deadly weapon upon a police officer, and a second felony charge of attempting to evade the police with wanton disregard for the safety of others.

Williams said Beattie submitted to a blood test, which has been submitted to the California Department of Justice for analysis to determine his blood-alcohol level.