Carson City arrests: Caretaker jailed for allegedly threatening client with knife

A 63-year-old caretaker was arrested Monday for suspicion of felony assault with a deadly weapon, preventing or dissuading a person to report a crime and battery, a Carson City sheriff's deputy report states.

Antonio Mempin, listed as being from Carson City, was taken into custody in the 1400 block of Rolling Hills Drive. According to the arrest report, Carson City sheriff's deputies were called to a residence regarding threats with a knife that happened Saturday, Nov. 16.

Deputies met with the victim and his nurse who said on Saturday early morning, a caretaker, Antonio Mempin, came into the room with a knife. The victim said the man was upset, yelling at him and pointed the knife at his face saying that he was going to kill him, the arrest report states.

The victim said Mephin then began hitting him in the arms with his fist. The victim said he took out his phone to call 911 but the suspect took the phone away, preventing him from making the call. The victim said the suspect then took multiple books out of his room, the arrest report states.

Deputies spoke with a nurse who works for the victim who visits at least two times per week. She said when she arrived at the home Nov. 18, the victim asked her to call 911 and said the suspect caretaker threatened him with a knife. The nurse advised their client was in good mental health and did not believe he was making the story up, the arrest report states.

Deputies then spoke with Mempin who said he lives with the victim full time to help take care of him.

He said he is not a licensed caretaker, but has experience. He said that at around 1 a.m. on Nov. 16, he said the person he cared for woke him up. The suspect told the officer this upset him because it was supposed to be his day off, the report states.

The suspect told the deputy he went into the room of the person with a knife he uses to keep his door closed. He said he takes the knife with him every time he leaves the room. He said he was mad at the person for waking him up on his day off, the report states.

The suspect said he was yelling at the person and waving his arms around. He said he did not hit the person or threaten him, however, he said he was holding onto the knife, the report states.

The deputy asked the suspect if he hit the victim. The suspect said he couldn't remember. The deputy asked the suspect if he prevented the victim from dialing 911. He said he couldn't remember. The deputy asked the suspect again if he took the phone away, preventing the victim from calling 911. The suspect again said he couldn't remember, the report states.

The suspect admitted he took books from the room because he was mad. While speaking with the suspect, about the incident, the deputy observed the suspect became very animated and upset, waving his arms around and raising his voice, the report states.

Deputies located a steak knife with a brown handle in the suspect's bedroom. The man confirmed that was the knife he carried into the victim's room. The deputy collected the knife as evidence.

Based on injuries sustained, the statement from the victim and the inconsistencies with the suspect's statement, Mempin was placed under arrest for suspicion of assault with a deadly weapon, preventing or dissuading a person from reporting a crime, and battery on a vulnerable, older person. Bail amount listed: $26,137.

In other arrests:
— A 37-year-old Carson City woman, Heather Blandford, was arrested Nov. 15 for a felony warrant alleging child abuse and neglect. The warrant stems from a Nov. 13 arrest at a Condor Circle home. The warrant was issued out of Carson City Justice Court. Bail: $40,000.

— A 25-year-old transient, Hobie Joseph Gregory, was arrested Nov. 15, 11:50 p.m. by the Carson City Sheriff's Office Special Enforcement Team for suspicion of possession of a controlled substance (meth), possession of drug paraphernalia and three misdemeanor warrants. Bail amount listed: $5,607.

— A 23-year-old man, Gerson Daniel Meza, was arrested Nov. 16, 1:58 a.m. in the 300 block of North Carson Street for suspicion of felony parole violation and a misdemeanor failure to appear warrant out of Sparks Justice Court.

— A 25-year-old Carson City man was booked into jail Monday, 1:15 a.m. for three contempt of court warrants. The warrants were issued out of Carson City Justice Court. Total cash bail amount listed: $11,000.

— A 41-year-old Dayton man was arrested Sunday for a misdemeanor failure to appear warrant issued out of Storey County. Bail: $3,000.

— A 38-year-old Carson City man was arrested Saturday, 7:03 a.m. for a misdemeanor warrant issued in December 2018 out of Lake Township Court. Bail: $1,332.

— A 32-year-old Carson City man was arrested Saturday, Nov. 16 for misdemeanor ex-felon failure to register. Bail: $242.

— A 58-year-old Mound House man was arrested Nov. 16, for three contempt of court warrants issued Nov. 7, 2019 out of Carson City Justice Court. Bail: $3,500 cash.

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.