Carson City man jailed on felony charge after giving officer a fake name

A Carson City man faces a felony charge of using false information to avoid prosecution after presenting deputies with another person's name during a traffic stop early Friday morning along Highway 395 and Old Clear Creek Road.

Michael McKnight, 29, allegedly gave Carson City Sheriff's Office deputies the name saying he thought he had a warrant for his arrest. He also faces three misdemeanor charges: possession of marijuana, possession of paraphernalia and being in violation of a suspended sentence.

According to the arrest report, at around 3:10 a.m. a deputy observed a white Lexus drive by with its running lights not functional near Highways 50 and 395. The officer caught up to the vehicle and made contact with McKnight who provided a name and date of birth but said, as he held a wallet in his hands, that he left his driver's license at home, the arrest report states.

Dispatch informed the officer they located an ID card for a name the man provided that was issued out of California. The officer observed the man was trying to disperse cigarette smoke in the vehicle and told the officer he had just driven from Sacramento and was on his way home to Indian Hills.

The officer noted that he recognized a female passenger from past arrests on drug charges and asked both McKnight and the woman if they had anything illegal in the vehicle including drugs or weapons. They both said there wasn't, according to the arrest report.

A deputy with a K9 was called to the stop traffic stop. Deputy Surratt spoke with McKnight who gave him permission to use K9 Ary to search the vehicle. Surratt said Ary alerted positive on the center console. Deputy Surratt located a small plastic container containing marijuana, a small scale and a glass pipe used for smoking marijuana, the arrest report states.

An officer asked McKnight what the scale was for and McKnight said it was used to measure marijuana. He said he attends a swap meet in South Lake Tahoe to buy marijuana. The man was cuffed and placed in the patrol car. Inside the car McKnight told officers his real name and said he gave the false name because he thought he had a warrant, the arrest report states.

Dispatch informed the officer that Alternative Sentencing wanted McKnight booked for a charge of violation of a suspended sentence. Bail: $12,874.

In other arrests:
A 30-year-old Carson City man was arrested on suspicion of disorderly conduct early Friday morning, Jan. 17, in the 1800 block of East Long Street. According to the arrest report, officers were called to the address in reference to an intoxicated man harassing two people, yelling and screaming obscenities.

A deputy made contact with the man who was intoxicated and uncooperative, the arrest report states. The officer informed the man the couple didn't want to be harassed any more and ordered the man to stay away from the apartment and to stop yelling and screaming outside.

The man told officers before going back inside his apartment that he could not promise anything and said that things were going to get worse, the arrest report states.

The deputy stayed on the scene across the street and watched the apartment building. The man exited his apartment, went over to couple's apartment and began yelling profanities and using the woman's name.

The deputy arrested the man at 12:59 a.m. for disorderly conduct. During booking he submitted a preliminary breath test of .19. Bail: $242.

— A 19-year-old Carson City woman was arrested Jan. 16 in the 900 block of East 5th Street at 4:30 p.m. She faces a misdemeanor charge of contempt of court. Officers with the Special Enforcement Team made contact with the woman at the street address to make an arrest for a warrant, contempt of court, issued Jan. 14, 2014 out of Carson City Justice Court. Bail: $500.

— A 52-year-old Carson City man was arrested Jan. 16, 3:30 p.m. in the 2000 block of West College Parkway on a failure to appear, contempt of court warrant. Bail: $1000.

Those arrested and facing charges are innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.