Carson City Sheriff: Nevada Day weekend sees uptick in alcohol and drug related arrests

Law enforcement and public safety issues associated with Nevada Day in Carson City have been "unusually tasking" this weekend, said Carson City Sheriff Ken Furlong. While the parade itself was calm for the most part, there was a significant uptick in alcohol and drug related arrests after the parade ended and when afternoon turned to evening.

“In contrast with other Nevada Day years, this was unusually heavy,” said Furlong. "All public safety for that matter has been especially active this weekend, which is rare." At one point during the overnight hours, from Saturday night into early Sunday morning there was a two-hour backup in calls, with the Nevada Highway Patrol being asked to assist with incidents in the downtown area, said Furlong.

There were 18 drug and alcohol-related arrests made by midnight, said Furlong. The most serious involved a fight before midnight at the Blue Bull bar where a man had to be taken by Care Flight for a head injury. That incident has been turned over to the Carson City sheriff’s office investigative team, said Furlong.

Here’s the latest reports filed by deputies. Go here for a report about how the victim of a burglary chased a man along Carson Street shortly after the parade ended. The man was arrested at Carson and John streets on felony burglary and stolen property charges and is being held on $125,737 bail.

— A 43-year-old Watsonville, Calif., man was arrested Saturday in the area of North Curry and Telegraph streets on a felony charge of battery with a deadly weapon after allegedly attacking a man, breaking a beer bottle and threatening him with it. Two others were arrested on disorderly conduct charges.

Maurice Ramirez Sr., is being held on $30,000 bail. According to the arrest report, officers responded to the area to assist Carson City Sheriff Furlong who reported the incident to dispatch.

Officers met with the suspect who pointed out people in the crowd as also being involved. Deputies made contact with the man’s girlfriend, 34, also of Watsonville, and shortly thereafter an NHP trooper advised he located a victim and other witnesses to the incident.

Officers spoke with the victim who advised he was thrown to the ground and pinned down by Ramirez, saying he had no idea why he was attacked. While the victim struggled to free himself, the suspect Ramirez grabbed a Corona beer bottle by its neck and smashed it on the curb and tried to stab the victim with it, the arrest report states. Several people intervened to break up the incident.

Officers spoke to a witness, who advised that he didn’t know either the suspect or victim. The witness said he saw Ramirez tackle the victim to the ground and attempted to stab him with a broken beer bottle. Several people, including the witness, broke up the incident and watched as the suspect tried to leave the area. The witness also observed the 34-year-old woman throw a beer bottle into the crowd as she walked away with Ramirez, the arrest report states.

Officers found the broken bottle used as a weapon in the same location where the fight happened. It was photographed and booked into evidence.

Another female, 49, of Carson City, put herself into the incident, and began screaming and cussing at officers. She was sternly ordered by an NHP trooper to leave the area but she refused. She was escorted to the side and asked for identification. She refused to identify herself and became belligerent. She was heavily intoxicated and very uncooperative, the arrest report states. She was detained and asked for her name several times. She was taken to a patrol car. A few minutes later officers noticed the woman had slipped her handcuffs and was kicking and screaming inside the patrol car. Officers reapplied the cuffs as the woman continued to swear at the officers.

Ramirez was arrested at 5:08 p.m. for felony battery with a deadly weapon. The 34-year-old Watsonville woman was arrested on a charge of disorderly conduct, a misdemeanor. Bail: $242. The 49-year-old Carson City woman was arrested on misdemeanor disorderly conduct and obstructing, resisting arrest. Bail: $654.

In felony arrests:
— A 28-year Carson City man was arrested Saturday, 4:54 p.m. in the 2500 block of North Carson Street on suspicion of felony possession of controlled substances for sale, methamphetamine, possession of a controlled substance, and third offense DUI, under the influence of drugs and five misdemeanor charges.

Bryan Dwight Wilson is being held on $20,935 bail. According to the arrest report, officers were dispatched to the area of Northgate and Hot Springs for a hit and run accident. The reporting witness stated she saw a single-vehicle accident and the driver fleeing on foot.

The reporting witness stated she saw a green 1993 Lincoln sedan strike a church event promotion sign at the north west side of the intersection. The male driver, Wilson, took a duffel bag from the vehicle and fled northbound on foot. The reporting witness described the driver to dispatch, the arrest report states.

Sgt. Gonzales arrived in the area and found the man in the parking lot adjacent to 2589 North Carson Street, identifying the man as the one seen with the duffel bag.
Wilson was advised of his Miranda rights and asked for consent to search the bag. The man waived his rights and consented to the search, where officers located .2 grams of methamphetamine inside the vehicle. In the duffel bag, officers found a meth pipe with residue, approximately 1/2 ounce of marijuana, several baggies, about $100 cash and digital scales. Wilson admitted the bag belonged to him and that he was driving the vehicle, the arrest report states.

Officers asked the man if he had been using drugs or drinking. He admitted to using methamphetamine earlier in the morning, and marijuana throughout the day and also drinking alcohol in the morning. He appeared to be aloof, disassociated and his speech was slow, the report states. He appeared to be under the influence of some kind of drug. Carson City fire and paramedics responded to the scene to check on the man, who did not need to go to the hospital and he declined medical attention.

Based on the accident admitted drug use, symptoms concurrent with drug use and location of drugs and paraphernalia, the man was taken into custody. He was asked to complete standardized field sobriety tests. Because the man was believed to be under the influence of drugs, the arresting officer asked for a blood test. A records and criminal history show Wilson had two prior DUI convictions, his first in Independence, Calif., November 2008 and in Bishop, Calif., in 2012. He also does not have a valid driver’s license and didn’t have proof of insurance.

— A 42-year-old Carson City woman, J.D. Novak, was arrested Sunday morning, 1:08 a.m. in the 3200 block of Market Street, on a felony parole and probation hold. She is being held without bail awaiting a hearing.

— A 36-year-old Carson City man was arrested Saturday, 9:06 p.m. in the 300 block of North Carson Street on a gross misdemeanor charge of battery on a police officer and a misdemeanor charge of resisting. A 39-year-old woman was also arrested on lesser charges, disorderly conduct and obstructing an officer.

Carson City Special Enforcement Team Supervisor Sgt. Daniel Gonzales and other units were dispatched at 9:03 p.m. to a bar in the 300 block of North Carson Street for a report of five to six subjects involved in a fight in the patio area of the establishment.

Officers arrived on scene with emergency lights activated, illuminating a patio area. Gonzales observed a man holding onto a brick wall and a female pulling on him telling him it was time to go because “the cops are here,” the arrest report states. A bar patron was standing in front of the suspect, and pointed at him.

As Gonzales attempted to grab the man’s hand, the man thrust back, striking the officer in the chest area. He then spun around and tried pulling away. The officer pushed the man and both fell to the found. As the officer and the suspect were on the ground, a woman, 39, identified later as the man’s wife, began to push the officer off her husband.

The man continued to resist the officer, kicking him in the arm and leg as he attempted to get up from the ground.

The crowd was advancing as deputies arrived. The man finally complied to commands. Once in custody the man remained uncooperative in the patrol car and at jail. Once at jail the man refused the orders of jail staff to dress in his assigned uniform. He had to be carried to a safety cell, He was charged with resisting and battery on an officer. Bail: $2,912.
The 39-year-old woman faces charges of disorderly conduct, and obstructing an officer while resisting arrest and not complying with commands from officers, both misdemeanors. She had a preliminary breath test of .146. Bail: $659.

— A 38-year-old Carson City woman was arrested Saturday, 12:36 a.m. in the area of Imperial and Hampton on a misdemeanor warrant out of Lyon County. Bail: $454.45.

— A 51-year-old Carson City man was arrested Saturday, 2:39 a.m. in the area of Ediza Circle on a misdemeanor battery charge. Bail: $1,137.

— A 35-year-old Carson City man was arrested Saturday, 5:45 p.m. in the area of Carson and Clearview streets on misdemeanor warrants for violation of a suspended sentence, and violation of pretrial conditions. Bail: $6,000.

— A 49-year-old Carson City jail inmate faces a charge of violation of a temporary restraining order after he allegedly attempted to call the telephone number of the person who has the restraining order a total of 40 times, with four calls complete. Bail: $1,137.

— A 54-year-old Carson City woman was arrested Saturday, 1:49 p.m., in the 600 block of East College Parkway on suspicion of DUI. Bail: $1,137.

— A 48-year-old Carson City man was arrested Saturday, 2:04 p.m. in the 3000 block of North Roop Street on a misdemeanor warrant, failure to appear. Bail: $404.

Friday arrests:
— A Wellington man, Richard Leon Birmingham, 50, was arrested Oct. 31, 8 p.m. at Roop and Telegraph streets on a felony parole and probation violation. No bail pending a hearing.

— A transient was arrested Friday in the 1400 block of North Carson Street, on a misdemeanor charge of not paying a food and beverage tab at a Carson City bar. The man ran up a tab of $35 and was unable to pay, according to the arrest report. Bail: $302.

— A 23-year-old Carson City man was arrested Friday, 6:32 p.m. in the 3200 block of Highway 50 East on a misdemeanor warrant, contempt of court, issued Sept. 30, 2014 out of Carson City Justice Court. Bail: $177.

— A 28-year-old Carson City man was arrested Friday, 4:40 p.m. in the area of Highway 50 East and College Parkway on misdemeanor charges of warrant violation of conditions, issued out of Carson City Justice Court; driving without a valid license, expired registration and having no proof of insurance. Bail: $4001.

— A 46-year-old Carson City woman was arrested Friday, 12:04 a.m. in the 1800 block of North Edmonds on a warrant, criminal contempt, issued Oct. 14, 2014 out of Carson City Justice Court. Bail: $1,000.

— A 22-year-old Carson City man was arrested Friday, 10:56 a.m. in the 1700 block of North Curry Street on a warrant, contempt of court, issued Oct. 22, 2014 out of Carson City Justice Court. Bail: $1,000.

— A 38-year-old Carson City man was arrested Oct. 30, 11:21 p.m. in the 500 block of North Carson Street, for violation of conditions. Bail: $3,000.

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