Carson City deputies arrest pair on suspicion of felony marijuana sales and transportation

Carson City sheriff's deputies arrested two on felony drug charges Tuesday following a traffic stop on North Roop Street in which one of the suspects fled and was later caught.

Arrested were Michael Jonathan Lang, 20, of Sparks and Jacob Lee Stephenson, 20 of Reno. Approximately 120 grams of marijuana was found inside the vehicle after a search.

According to the arrest report, a deputy patrolling the 3000 block of North Roop Street observed a Jeep with expired plates at around 12:18 a.m. The officer initiated a traffic stop when the passenger in the vehicle, Stephenson, jumped out and ran south on Hot Springs Road.

The officer requested backup and asked the driver, Lang, who the man was that jumped out of the car. Lang replied: "I don't know. He was a hitchhiker I just picked up," the arrest report states.

The officer asked again Lang to identify the passenger. Again the man said "I don't know, I just picked him up at Walmart." The officer asked Lang why he had two In-and-Out drinks in the vehicle cup holder. Lang then replied he had been with the man earlier and they were coming from Sparks.

The officer again asked why Stephenson ran, and Lang said "I don't know." The officer told Lang he was obstructing the investigation and not being honest. He was asked to exit the vehicle, where he was detained and read his Miranda rights.

Lang was asked again if he wanted to speak about the incident and he agreed. The officer asked him who the passenger was and Lang said his name was Garret, the arrest report states.

During a search of Lang's pockets the officer found two foil wrapped brownies containing marijuana. The officer asked Lang if he could search the vehicle in which Lang agreed, the arrest report states. Inside approximately 120 grams of marijuana was found as well as drug paraphernalia.

Stephenson was found by Carson City Sheriff's Office deputies at around 1:50 a.m. in the 700 block of Silver Oak Drive and taken to jail. He faces charges of felony drug possession with intent to sell and transport, and four misdemeanor charges: Possession of drug paraphernalia, obstructing an officer, and two warrants issued out of Reno Justice Court. Bail: $26,064.

Lang was arrested at 12:56 a.m. and faces the felony charge of drug possession with intent to sell and transport, and misdemeanor charges of possession of drug paraphernalia, obstructing an officer and driving with expired plates. Bail: $21,748.

In other arrests:
— A 40-year-old Carson City man was arrested Tuesday, 9:45 p.m. in the 4000 block of Etta Place on suspicion of misdemeanor domestic battery.

According to the Carson City Sheriff's Office arrest report, the victim told officers that she was in a verbal dispute with her boyfriend whom she lives with. She told the officer that as she began to walk backward up the stairs of the residence to get away from him, he was moving toward her.

She said that as she reached a landing area on the stairs, the man then pushed her backward with an open hand on her chest causing her to fall backward onto the carpeted stair landing, the report states.

As she fell backward she struck the back of her head on the stair railing and received an abrasion to her lower back, the report states. The woman said she then called the sheriff's office to report the incident.

The man agreed the couple were in a verbal dispute, but he said he did not batter the woman and that she was lying. He said he did get down on his knees and begged her to leave the residence. The man said the woman should have moved out last November but has not and he wants her to leave.

Photos of an abrasion on the lower back of the woman were taken. Based on the information from the woman, the man was taken into custody on suspicion of domestic battery. Bail: $3,137.

— A 30-year-old Carson City woman was arrested Tuesday in the 3200 block of East Nye Lane on two misdemeanor counts contempt of court. The woman had two warrants for her arrest issued out of Carson City Justice Court, issued Feb. 10, 2014. Each for for violation of pre-trial supervision, possession and consumption of alcohol. Bail: $6,000.

— A 54-year-old Minden man was arrested Tuesday, 7:23 a.m. in the 3300 block of Dilday Drive on a misdemeanor domestic battery warrant issued Jan. 22, 2014 out of Carson City Municipal Court. Bail: $5,000.

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