Carson City pair jailed for trafficking after liquid meth found in cup, baggies in body cavity

Two Carson City residents were arrested for suspicion of felony drug trafficking and other charges after deputies found liquid methamphetamine in a cup and baggies of meth hidden in a man's body cavity.

Michael Thomas Palomo, 41, was arrested for trafficking a Schedule 1 drug of 28 grams or more, possession of a controlled Schedule 1 drug with intent to sell, destruction of evidence, possession of drug paraphernalia and trespassing. April Dawn Carpenter, also 41, was arrested for trafficking of a Schedule I drug of 28 grams or more, possession of a dangerous drug without a prescription, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

According to the arrest report, deputies responded to a report of Palomo trespassing at a Goni Road casino after he had been told not to return. Casino personnel said Palomo was with Carpenter, a casino employee, and had left in a van.

A deputy witnessed a van swerve around a corner onto College Parkway, making a sharp and fast turn in which the van leaned heavily to its right side. The deputy confirmed the plate number through dispatch and attempted to pull the vehicle over. However, the driver of the van continued and deputies reported they saw a passenger moving around inside. Then both the driver and the passenger were making movements toward the van's center console.

Finally, the van pulled into the driveway of an East William Street residence and deputies made contact with Carpenter, who was driving, and Palomo in the passenger seat. While Palomo was searched before he was detained for trespassing, deputies found five knives in his pockets, which were removed, the arrest report states.

K-9 Officer Beck arrived to perform a sniff search of the vehicle, and gave a positive alert to his handler.

Inside the vehicle deputies located two Tramadol pills in a black marijuana tube in Carpenter’s purse. On top of the center console were two 20 ounce cups filled with liquid. The deputy opened the first cup and found a meth pipe wrapped in a soaked paper towel. The liquid in the cup tested positive for liquid methamphetamine.

Palomo denied the meth pipe was his, because he said, he eats his meth and that he was drinking water, the arrest report states.

Carpenter told the deputies the pipe was Palomo’s, and that she does not do methamphetamine. When deputies asked her to open her mouth and stick out her tongue, they observed blisters and a white residue on her tongue, according to the arrest report.

Both were placed into custody and put in patrol cars for transport.

However, Palomo began complaining he was having an asthma attack and asked for the fire department to be called. When the deputy pulled over and opened the back door, he noticed Palomo had taken his seat belt off.

The deputy asked Palomo why he had taken it off and why he was moving around so much, and Palomo said he needed water. The deputy said he could have some at the jail. Then Palomo told the deputy he had meth in his body cavity, according to the arrest report.

The deputy asked if he could reach it from where he was without spilling it, and Palomo said he could not. The deputy then told him to sit still and they would deal with it when they got to the jail. The fire department arrived and advised Palomo’s vitals were normal.

Palomo then said he was suicidal and needed to go to the hospital. The deputy told him if he was suicidal then he would be taken to the padded room in the jail. Palomo said he didn’t want to go to jail but to the hospital. The deputy told him they were going to the jail, the arrest report states.

During transport, Palomo continued to move around in his seat.

At the jail sally port entrance, the deputy opened Palomo’s door and could see methamphetamine covering the backseat of the patrol car. He told Palomo to exit the vehicle, and chunks of methamphetamine began falling through his pant legs. With every step, more chunks fell from his pants, the arrest report states.

The deputy recovered a baggie, and then ordered a search of Palomo’s person. Three additional baggies were recovered hidden in his body cavity. The total meth located on Palomo’s person was 1.3 grams. The total amount of liquid meth in the cup was 17.82 ounces.

Palomo’s bail: $48,879. Carpenter’s bail: $43,637.

In other arrests:
— A 34-year-old Carson City man was arrested on two counts of battery Tuesday evening at Carson Tahoe Regional Medical Center.

According to deputies, the man had been intoxicated and grabbed a medical technician and a security guard by their wrists during a struggle. He was physically uncooperative and was being held inside of a room.

Several hours earlier, the man had been admitted to the ER for a high blood alcohol content, and walked out. A short time later, he was found drunk and unable to stand at a nearby motel, the arrest report states. He requested to go back to the emergency room.

He had grabbed the wrists of a tech after they attempted to stop him from leaving, and wouldn’t let go until a security guard came to assist. He then grabbed the security guard, who told him he was committing a battery, and the man then complied with his requests to sit until deputies arrived.

He was taken to the jail and placed in a padded room. Bail: $2,274.

— A 52-year-old Carson City woman was arrested Tuesday evening on a felony warrant for obtaining money by false pretenses.

Tracee Michele Naki was in custody at the Carson City Jail when deputies were advised of the additional warrant in regards to the felony charge. Bail: $20,000.

All information for the crime log (unless otherwise noted) comes from the arrest reports supplied by the Carson City Sheriff's Office, and is considered by law to be public information. All subjects are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law. The policy of Carson Now is to name anyone who is arrested for a felony offense.