Carson City authorities arrest Reno woman after car chase with 10-year-old inside

UPDATE: The case against the woman was dismissed by a Carson City Justice of the Peace Court judge.
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Carson City authorities arrested a Reno woman after she led officers on a chase through the south part of town with her 10-year-old son in the car, crossing into oncoming traffic and forcing motorists off the road.

The woman was arrested shortly before 8 p.m. on Saturday in the parking lot of the Carson City Sheriff's Office, after patrol cars and motorcycle officers attempted to stop her. The woman, who ended the chase at the sheriff's office on Musser Street, was tasered to be subdued, according to the arrest report.

The woman faces charges of gross misdemeanor child endangerment, reckless driving, eluding officers, speeding and failure to maintain lanes. Bail has been set at $3,978.

According to the arrest report, a deputy was waved down by a citizen at about 7:30 p.m. who informed him of a reckless driver going south on Carson Street. At about the same time dispatchers received multiple 911 called from witnesses who said that motorist was driving a silver compact car down the center lane of Carson Street, flashing their lights, honking their horn and waving at pedestrians.

Another call from a witness said the car was occupied by a woman who was doing donuts at Carson Street and Old Clear Creek. Meanwhile another witness advised dispatch that the car was driving northbound on Carson Street.

The car passed authorities, including a motorcycle patrol officer, who reported that the driver was honking their horn and flashing her lights at him. The motorcycle patrol car initiated a stop, activating his lights and sirens. A patrol car also did the same, but the car didn't stop, accelerating to speeds of nearly 50 mph in a 25 mph zone, according to the arrest report.

At Carson and 8th streets the car crossed over into the southbound lanes and began heading north. Numerous cars had to pull to the shoulder to get out of her way, the report stated. At around 5th Street the car went into the northbound lanes again, swerving back and forth between lanes.

The chase involved three sheriff's patrol motorcycles, a detective car and an unmarked patrol car, all trailing the woman with lights and sirens. Three other patrol cars followed suit. As officers passed the Supreme Court building courtyard, the woman again crossed over into the southbound lane, causing numerous cars to pull to the shoulder to avoid colliding with the car, the report stated.

The car failed to stop for the red light at Carson and Musser streets, accelerating to about 45 mph. The woman apparently drove to Carson Street and Highway 50 and then back to Musser, where she pulled into the sheriffs office parking lot. She was apprehended but had to be tased to gain compliance, according to the report.

As she was being taken into custody, a 10-year-old boy sat up from the back seat. The boy gave authorities his name and said he was "very scared." The boy told authorities that he heard the lights and sirens but was too scared to say anything to his mother. He added that his mom was talking about mold in their Reno home.

The arresting officer tried to speak with the woman, who "stared straight ahead" and didn't speak, according to the arrest report.