Carson City arrests: Jail inmate booked after video shows him punching man

An 18-year-old Carson City man and an inmate in the Carson City Sheriff's Detention Facility was booked Friday for suspicion of felony battery by a prisoner, a sheriff's deputy report said.

Frank Anthony Lujan was booked on the charge following an investigation. According to the arrest report, jail deputies responded to a fight. The two men were in the day room and were separated and cuffed.

On-duty sergeants reviewed a video that showed Lujan battering the other man, the report states. The video showed the victim sitting at a middle table, when Lujan approached him, started talking to him, and then walked around the table, trying to fight, the report states.

The video shows the victim trying to get away from Lujan with his hands up in the air. Lujan is seen throwing multiple punches, striking the victim three times in the face. It is noted in the report the victim did not throw a single punch at the suspect.

Jail deputies interviewed the victim, read him his Miranda rights and asked what happened. He stated he was sitting at the table when Lujan went up to him and told him to roll up his belongings. When he asked Lujan why, he didn't give him a reason. He said the man then came around the table and began to throw punches at him. The victim stated he didn't have any injuries and did not want medical attention, the report states.

The suspect, Lujan, was interviewed and read his Miranda rights and was asked if he would like to talk about the incident. He stated he did not wish to talk. The interview ended. Lujan was booked for suspicion of battery by a prisoner. All videos of the incident have been booked as evidence. Bail: $20,000.

In other arrests:
Two were taken into custody Saturday in the 2500 block of North Carson Street for suspicion of drug possession and other charges.

James Michael Dutton, 36, was arrested in the 2500 block of North Carson Street for suspicion of possession of a controlled substance and five misdemeanors: possession of drug paraphernalia, fictitious registration, obstructed license plate, no proof of insurance and failure to maintain an traffic lane. Also arrested was Cynthia Lynn Brown, 23, for suspicion of possession of a controlled substance and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia.

According to the arrest report, a Carson City sheriff's deputy made a traffic stop on a vehicle with an obstructed license plate and failure to maintain a lane. Another deputy who arrived observed both subjects reaching toward the vehicle sunroof to manipulate something, the report states.

The driver, Dutton, gave consent to search the vehicle. Both he and Brown were removed and escorted a short distance.

During the search, deputies checked the sunroof area and located a black lockbox container. Deputies removed and opened the box and found a plastic bag containing suspected methamphetamine in crystal and powder form, and a scale, the report states.

Deputies detained the two. Deputies learned the vehicle had a license plate belonging to another vehicle. The driver didn't have proof of insurance. Dutton was arrested and read his Miranda warning.

He said he would speak and claimed the suspected methamphetamine belonged to him. He said the woman did not know the methamphetamine was in the vehicle when they were stopped. He admitted to smoking methamphetamine approximately 1 day ago, the arrest report states.

He was arrested for possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, fictitious registration, obstructed license plate, no proof of insurance, and failure to maintain a lane. Total bail amount listed: $4,645.

The woman was read her Miranda warning and stated she was aware the methamphetamine was in the black box prior to deputies searching the vehicle. She was arrested for suspicion of possession of a controlled substance, a felony, and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia. Total bail amount listed $3,637.

— A 35-year-old Carson City man, Thomas Lovelace, was arrested Friday, 11:50 p.m. in the 500 block of North Carson Street for a felony warrant alleging possession of a controlled substance. The warrant was issued August 20, 2019 out of Carson City. He was being held without bail in lieu of a hearing.

— A 69-year-old Carson City man was Saturday 2:53 p.m. in the 3200 block of Imperial Way for misdemeanor suspicion of domestic battery.

According to the arrest report, deputies were called to the area regarding a domestic dispute between a father and son. Deputies spoke with the son who said he and his father were arguing about rent money that he had already paid. He said his father spends most of his day drinking alcohol and when he comes home he's confrontational. He said he told his father he wasn't going to pay and his father responded by punching him in the left side of the face with a closed fist, the arrest report states.

The son said he continued arguing with his father who challenged him to fight. Th son said he refused to fight his father. He said his father again punched him, in the mouth, with a closed fist. The son had minor swelling on the upper right side of his lip consistent with being punched, and redness and discoloration above his jawline, consistent with being punched, the arrest report states.

Deputies met with the father who admitted to punching and pushing his son during their argument. He said he felt threatened, was defending himself, and that's why he punched his son in the face.

The father had a minor cut on his ring finger of his left hand. He did not say what happened to cause the cut. The cut was consistent with being caused when his fist made contact with the man's teeth when he was punched in the mouth and teeth, the arrest report states. The father was determined to be the primary aggressor and was arrested for suspicion of domestic battery. Bail: $3,137.

— A 48-year-old Carson City woman as arrested Friday, 4:28 p.m. at a Caboose Drive residence for a misdemeanor warrant alleging contempt of court. The warrant was issued August 26, 2019 out of Carson City Justice Court. Bail: $500.

— A 27-year-old Sparks man was arrested Friday, 4:24 p.m. in the area of Linda Kay Court for misdemeanor suspicion of driving without a driver's license for DUI, driving without an interlock device, two counts violation of probation, and a contempt of court warrant.

According to the arrest report, an officer with the Department of Alternative Sentencing advised he observed the man get in and leave in a vehicle. The officer advised he knew the man had a suspended driver's license and therefore initiated a traffic stop.

The driver was also required to have an interlock device installed on his vehicles. The officer did not locate an interlock device installed on the vehicle. The man was arrested. Total bail amount listed: $8,774.

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.