Carson City sheriff's arrests: Woman tries to buy vehicle from auto dealership using stolen car

A 46-year-old Reno woman was arrested Tuesday for multiple felony charges after allegedly using a stolen car in an attempt to buy a vehicle at a South Carson Street auto dealership, a Carson City sheriff’s deputy said.

Kimberly Rae Johnson faces felony charges of burglary, possession of stolen property, uttering a forged instrument, willful use of non-sufficient fund checks and possession of a controlled substance.

According to the arrest report, deputies were called to the dealership in the 3600 block of South Carson Street regarding a possible fraud in progress. Officers met with sales staff who advised Johnson was attempting to buy a car but, according to a bank, the information she was providing was fictitious.

A deputy contacted Johnson outside the dealership in a maroon Nissan that was from another car lot in Reno. A Vehicle Inspection Number check showed the car was reported stolen out of Reno, the arrest report states.

The woman was taken into custody. During inventory of the car, officers found a small baggie with white powder presumed to be drugs, multiple checks with different names and addresses on them, and a dozen $25 Home Depot gift cards with receipts from Kohl’s in Carson City.

A deputy investigating the case took the gift card receipts to Kohl’s and verified Johnson had purchased them by using forged checks with false names and identification in three separate transactions. The deputy was able to watch a video and identified Johnson. She was booked into jail without incident. Bail: $62,500.

In other arrests:
— A 33-year-old Reno man, James Howard Kepler Jr., was booked Tuesday, 6:15 p.m. into Carson City Jail for felony charges, failure to appear and parole and probation violation warrants issued Nov. 14, 2016 out of Carson City Drug Court. He’s being held without bail in lieu of a hearing.

— A Markleeville man and woman were arrested Tuesday, 8:41 a.m. in the area of Lepire and Cassidy streets for suspicion of drug possession and other charges.

Chelsea Maria Guerrero, 21, was arrested for possession of a controlled substance and possession of a dangerous drug without a prescription. She also faces a misdemeanor charge of possession of marijuana. Johnnie Ray Erwin IV, 25, was booked into custody for suspicion of possession of a controlled substance, and the following misdemeanors: possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of marijuana and a warrant for petit larceny.

According to the arrest report, a deputy was assigned to the area near Moffat Park for an abandoned trailer reported in the area. The officer arrived and saw the trailer in the parking lot with expired registration and marijuana smoke coming from within the vehicle.

The deputy made contact with the occupants and asked about the marijuana with Erwin saying he didn’t know what the officer was talking about, the arrest report states. Both did not answer further questions and remained silent. They were detained with a backpack in the woman’s control recovered. Inside officers located methamphetamine, marijuana and prescription drugs without a prescription. Bail for Guerrero, $5,600. Bail for Erwin, $4,600.

A 19-year-old Reno man was arrested Tuesday, 11:47 p.m. in the area of Fairview and Saliman for misdemeanor suspicion of DUI with property damage, minor consuming alcohol and open container.
According to the arrest report, a deputy observed a bright blue flash and bang in the area of Fairview Drive near south Saliman Road. A passerby stopped to tell the deputy that a vehicle had collided with an electrical pole at Fairview and Saliman.

The officer arrived and found a beige Chrysler sedan crashed into a pavilion and electrical pole, which caused a brief power outage in the area. The man identified himself and told the officer he was driving and fell asleep while driving, the arrest report states.

There were two opened 24 ounce Coors beers in the front of the vehicle. The suspect told the officer he had consumed one of the 24 ounce beers earlier in the day. The man agreed to participate in field sobriety tests and showed signs of impairment. He blew a .153 in a preliminary breath test and was arrested for suspicion of DUI. At jail he provided evidentiary blood samples.

Meanwhile, NV Energy advised the damage was caused to the electrical pole’s tension line and the estimated cost of repair was between $6,000 and $8,000. Bail: $1,571.

— A 24-year-old transient was booked into jail Tuesday, 6:15 p.m. for two misdemeanor warrants issued March 17, 2014 out of Carson City Justice Court. Bail: $6,000.

— A 53-year-old Carson City woman was arrested Monday, 12:06 pm.in the 100 block of Koontz Lane for destruction of property. According to the arrest report, two female roommates began arguing in the presence of a roofer providing an estimate.

When the roofer and the victim went outside, the 53-year-old suspect locked her out of the home and wouldn’t let her back in. The victim then went to the suspect’s window and tapped on it with a broom, causing a crack. The 53-year-old suspect let her roommate in and then picked up a large vase and threw it at the victim’s window, breaking it. The suspect admitted to breaking the window and was arrested for destruction of property. Bail: $622.

— A 35-year-old homeless man was arrested Monday, 1:39 p.m. in the 100 block of West Winnie Lane for suspicion of obstructing an officer and being a sex offender failing to register.

According to the arrest report, the man told a deputy he was a diabetic when he was searched by an officer. The man told the office he was diabetic. During the search a needle was recovered.

The man then declined to provide information about his condition such as what kind of insulin, how many times a day and where he gets it at. He finally admitted he uses heroin. When he was arrested and taken to jail where he told the officer he really was a diabetic and he takes pills instead. He was unable to provide the officer with the identification of prescription pills he allegedly took for diabetes. The officer also booked him for obstructing. Bail $654.

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.