Pair hiding in crawl space arrested on felony drug charges

Two were arrested early Monday morning on felony drug and gross misdemeanor child endangerment charges after a search warrant led to their discovery in a crawl space where they were hiding, a Carson City sheriff’s deputy said.

Arrested were Michael Tiehm and Ashley Marie Makara, both 25, of Carson City. According to the arrest report, deputies went to a home in the 3100 block of Minonee Drive in an attempt to serve arrest warrants on the pair. Officers arrived at the home at around 9 p.m. and saw Tiehm inside with another male.

The officer called for backup because Tiehm has fled law enforcement in the past. Makara was also seen in the home. The officer knocked on the front door and window several times without a response.

The deputy applied for a search warrant which was granted 10:27 p.m. A perimeter was established around the home, and using a loudspeaker officers called on the occupants inside the home to exit.

After about 10 to 15 minutes there wasn’t a response. As officers were preparing to enter the home, the door was answered by a woman who was instructed to exit. The male seen with Tiehm earlier was holding the three-year-old daughter of Makara and they exited the home, the arrest report states.

Once inside officers found a crawl space opening with clothing on top of it in the bedroom closet, along with several items of children’s clothing and toys. As officers were attempting to gain access into the locked crawl space, they found baggies of meth, one containing six grams the other with .5 grams, the arrest report states.

The crawl space had been locked from underneath, indicating the couple had entered and and locked it, while someone else put clothes on the crawl space to conceal it. Officers were able to open the locked cover, and then ordered them to exit. There wasn’t an answer. A small amount of OC spray was used through one of the exterior vents, and there still wasn’t a response, the arrest report states.

A thermal-imaging camera showed the pair were ducking behind pipes under the home. A deputy gave a final warning that tear gas would be used if they did not surrender. Tiehm agreed to surrender nearly four hours later and both were taken into custody.

Both face felony charges of drug trafficking, children present while in violation of the Controlled Substance Act, gross misdemeanor charges of harboring a fugitive, child neglect and endangerment, and misdemeanor obstructing a police officer.

Tiehm also faces a misdemeanor warrant charge for contempt of court, while Makara faces a gross misdemeanor warrant charge of conspiracy to receive/transfer of a stolen vehicle, and misdemeanor violation of pretrial supervision. Bail for Tiehm: $55,912. Bail for Makara: $75,912.

In other arrests:
— A 32-year-old Carson City man, Elvin Lee Fred, was arrested Sunday in the 100 block of Lindsey Lane on suspicion of felony third DUI, and four misdemeanor charges including obstructing, failure to obey a police officer, driving without a valid driver’s license and being arrested while on probation. According to the deputy’s report, officers responded to a fast food restaurant drive-thru on East William Street for a report of a possible DUI driver.

An officer arrived and attempted to stop the vehicle, where it then left at a high rate of speed, the arrest report states. Officers located the vehicle on Lindsey Lane and found two people in a back yard of a residence. Officers asked the man to meet out front, and asked if he would participate in standardized field sobriety tests.

Elvin agreed with a result of above .08. He was taken to jail. Upon arrival at jail officers reviewed the man’s criminal history and driver’s license print out. He did not have a valid driver’s license, and has two prior DUI convictions. Dispatch advised he was on Alternative Sentencing. An officer added a charge of violation of probation. He was read his right under the Nevada Implied Consent law in which the man said he would not voluntarily give a blood sample.

A search warrant was applied for and received allowing for blood draws. Bail: $24,149. A 28-year-old woman who was with Elvin was booked on two misdemeanor court warrant charges, one for violation of a suspended sentence issued out of Carson City Justice Court, and the other petit larceny issued out of Douglas County. Bail: $3,640.

— A 36-year-old Carson City woman, Erin Jewel Sullivan, was arrested Sunday on a felony burglary charge at the Walmart store in the 3200 block of Market Street, a Carson City sheriff’s deputy said.

According to the arrest report, the woman entered the store at around 8:40 p.m. where she used the receipt from the location as a “shopping list” of products picked off the shelves. The scam is commonly known as “receipt return.” She was observed passing through the self check out lanes and paid for some food items, not paying for the merchandise that was chosen to match the receipt. Then she went to the customer service counter and returned the items, whereby the customer service employee then “refunded” the money for the items.

After she received the money, loss prevent approached her to inquire about the transaction. She ran from the loss prevention employee and into the locked doors on the east side of the store. She was detained when officers arrived. A dispatch check was done in which officers learned she had a warrant for her arrest issued out of Douglas County.

During a search of the woman’s belongings officers located several items with Universal Product Code barcodes with tape on the backside. She was arrested and taken into custody on the felony burglary charge and two misdemeanors: possession of burglary tools, and warrant contempt of court. Bail: $23,000.

— A 56-year-old woman, Pamela McGratch, was arrested Sunday, 10:02 a.m. in the 5000 block of Brick Road on a felony charge of possession of a controlled substance and misdemeanor charge of possession of drug paraphernalia. Officers went to a residence to serve a warrant on another woman and arrested McGratch after she told officers there was a methamphetamine pipe in her purse. Also found was a small plastic bag with methamphetamine. Bail: $3,637.

— A 26-year-old Carson City man was arrested Sunday, 8:43 a.m. on a misdemeanor charge of disorderly conduct. According to the arrest report, the man was intoxicated and allegedly was trying to fight with a customer at a convenience store in the 4100 block of South Carson Street. A preliminary breath test came back with a BAC of .212. Bail: $242.

— A 51-year-old Carson City man was booked into jail Sunday, 11:05 a.m. on a warrant for failure to obey a citation. Bail: $385.

Go here for other arrests made over the weekend. Those arrested and facing criminal charges are innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.