Carson City man arrested for child neglect after unrestrained toddler falls out of moving car

A 29-year-old man was arrested Monday on gross misdemeanor charges of child neglect and endangerment after the man's unrestrained 18-month old son fell out of a moving car, a Carson City sheriff's deputy said.

The incident was witnessed by an off-duty Carson City deputy near a gas station in the 2100 block of North Carson Street at around 10 a.m. According to the arrest report, deputies and an ambulance were called to the scene where the off-duty deputy saw the toddler fall out of the car.

The injured child received an open wound on his left arm. The officer said the toddler was face down on the asphalt when he got to the child, the arrest report states.

The arresting deputy spoke with the driver who stated he picked up his two boys, ages 6 and 18-months from the sitter's home on Hot Springs Road. He stated he placed the toddler into the car seat and did not secure the seat into a safety base that is needed for the car seat. He said he placed the occupied child seat on the passenger back seat, facing forward, unsecured to the vehicle, the arrest report states.

He said he did not activate the lock on the right rear passenger door and also failed to activate the child safety lock on the door. He stated the toddler has a habit of opening the vehicle door while in transport. He said the child has opened the door numerous times in the past, the arrest report states.

The man told deputies he let the 6-year-old child sit in the back seat of the sedan, next to his car seat, not in it and without applying the seat belt. He stated the 6-year-old does not like being in his car seat. He pointed at the car seat that was in the back seat behind the driver's side. The child seat had clothing and shoes inside it and was not secured in the vehicle, the arrest report states.

The man said he was traveling south on Carson Street when he heard a noise in the back seat. He said he looked back and noticed the right rear door was open and the child seat with the infant was gone. He said he stopped the sedan and ran toward the toddler when he was confronted by the off-duty deputy. The man stated he thinks the 6-year-old opened the door and pushed the toddler out of the vehicle, according to the arrest report.

The man was arrested on two gross misdemeanor counts of child neglect and endangerment and two misdemeanor counts of not having his children in vehicle safety restraints. Bail: $10,224.

In other arrests:
— A 50-year-old man was arrested Monday near Long and Fall streets Monday after allegedly stealing a car and driving it while under the influence, a Carson City sheriff's deputy said.

James Dean Anderson was arrested after authorities spotted the vehicle in the 500 block of Adams Street. It was the same vehicle reported stolen on Sunday.

Anderson was asked why he was driving a stolen vehicle. He said he received permission from the the owner of the car, saying she gave him the keys on Saturday. He was asked when he was supposed to return the vehicle, and the man replied that a date for him to return it was never agreed to, the arrest report states.

The arresting officer told the man that he took the original report for the stolen vehicle from the woman and she stated she never gave anyone the keys or permission to take the vehicle. Anderson looked at the officer and didn't speak. Through the conversation, the deputy detected a moderate amount of alcohol coming from the man's breath. He was asked if he had been drinking in which the man replied he had five Long Island ice teas. He was arrested.

Deputies checked the stolen vehicle and found a pill bottle and baggie with marijuana. Anderson told the officer that the marijuana was his and that he didn't want the woman to take the fault for the found pot, the arrest report states.

The car was released to the owner. Anderson faces a felony charge of possessing a stolen vehicle and misdemeanor charges of being in violation of probation, driving under the influence, possession of marijuana, driving on a suspended license and contempt of court. Bail: $15,840.

— A 34-year-old Carson City man was arrested Monday, 10:46 p.m. on misdemeanor warrant charges of battery and domestic battery. The warrant was issued June 27, 2014 out of Carson City Justice Court. The man was stopped by Carson City sheriff's deputies while walking east on Carmine Street near Bunch Way. Bail: $5,000.

— A 33-year-old Carson City woman was arrested Monday, 8:15 p.m. in the 1100 block of King Street on a misdemeanor charge of domestic battery. The woman allegedly assaulted her ex-husband by slapping him in the face because he was "talking mean" to her, the arrest report states. The woman told the officer it was the only way she knew how to "shut him up." Bail: $3,137.

— A Carson City man was arrested Monday, 1:06 a.m. in the area of College Parkway and Combs Canyon on misdemeanor charges of DUI and possession of less than an ounce of marijuana. The man was found sleeping in the driver's seat of his vehicle. He took a preliminary breath test that resulted above the .08 legal limit. He was arrested and taken to jail. During inventory of the vehicle officers located marijuana. At jail the man provided breath samples of .121 and .113 BAC. Bail: $1,874.

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