Carson City Sheriff's arrest log: Couple booked on felony child abuse, drug possession

A man and woman were arrested Thursday afternoon on multiple felony offenses, including child abuse, drug possession and prohibited person possessing a firearm, a Carson City Sheriff's deputy reported.

Michael Cox, 37, and 33 year-old Samantha Lea Gifford, both of Carson City, were arrested following a three-week law enforcement surveillance of a residence in the 2700 block of Menlo Drive for a wanted person authorities had identified as Gifford.

Gifford had a no-bail felony bench warrant outstanding for trafficking, the arrest report said.

During surveillance of the residence, Cox was observed arriving at the residence in two different vehicles and at different times throughout the day, the arrest report said.

Brief contact had been made with Cox during surveillance. The suspect stated he was had recently got out of prison.

A criminal history check on Cox showed "numerous" felony convictions. He had also not registered as an ex-felon with the Carson City Sheriff's Office, the report said.

On Thursday afternoon, Cox was observed leaving in one of his vehicles. Two officers subsequently conducted a traffic stop on Cox in the area of N. Lompa Lane and Northridge, and took him into custody for misdemeanor ex-felon failing to register, the arrest report said.

A search warrant was also obtained Thursday for the Menlo Drive address and executed shortly thereafter.

There was no answer at the front door of the residence despite multiple announcements from law enforcement officers, so entry was breached, the report said.

Gifford was observed in the living room holding a four-month-old infant.

She waived her Miranda Rights upon being read them and spoke with deputies, the report said.

Gifford stated that she last used methamphetamine two days earlier and uses the drug about twice a week by snorting it. She also said she recently stopped using heroin.

She reported that she had been selling meth about a year ago by the quarter-pound, the report said.

She further told deputies that she has a one year-old child in common with Cox and only comes to the apartment for visits. The baby she was holding was also hers.

During a search of the residence, deputies found two digital scales (one with meth residue), multiple small clear bags, a broken mirror with meth residue, three meth pipes, bag of marijuana, a dust pan with meth residue, two black cell phones, .22 caliber bullet and a Ruger .22 caliber handgun loaded with six rounds of ammunition, the arrest report said.

A social worker was called to the location because of the children involved. Gifford said her infant child lives with her in the apartment, while Cox's older child (not in common) also lived at the residence.

The older child was interviewed by Child Protective Services (CPS) and deputies. The child said she takes care of herself, gets herself ready for school, and makes her own breakfast, the report said.

When queried about drug use in the home, the older child said he had observed Cox smoking marijuana with the infant present. The room, she reported, has been full of smoke that hangs in the air.

The two children were turned over to CPS, the report said.

In close proximity to baby items, including crib, nose bulb, pacifier and bottle of formula, were located drug residue and/or paraphernalia, officers found during the search.

A criminal history check on Gifford showed she had a previous conviction for domestic battery, which prohibited her from possessing a firearm, the report said.

The active felony warrants on Gifford were issued by the Third Judicial District Court in Lyon County for conspiracy to Violate the Uniform Controlled Substance Act and trafficking the following controlled substances: Flunitrazepam, Gamma-Hydroxybutyrate and other Schedule 1 substances constituting a Category A felony.

In all, Gifford was charged with the following felonies: two counts of prohibited person possession a firearm, meth possession and child abuse.

Cox was charged with felony meth possession, prohibited person possessing a firearm, child abuse, and ex-felon in possession of a firearm.

No bail hold for Gifford on the two felony warrants; Bail for all other charges: $106,137.

Bail for Cox: $83,879.

In other arrests:

— A 24 year-old Tahoe Vista, CA, man was arrested Thursday at 1:23 p.m. in the area of Fifth Street and Airport Road for misdemeanor first-offense driving under the influence (DUI) and open container, a Carson City Sheriff's deputy reported.

According to the arrest report, a Sheriff's deputy on patrol observed a Subaru sedan cross a double yellow line, pass and cut in front of a vehicle in front of it. The Subaru was traveling at a high rate of speed.

A traffic stop was made on the Subaru sedan and the deputy contacted the driver, who had stuck his head out the driver's side window with a confused look before identifying himself to the officer, the report said.

When asked why he had crossed the double yellow line and passed the vehicle in front of him, the suspect driver stated he had to use the restroom.

The deputy could smell alcohol coming from the vehicle and driver, the report said, and there was an open beer can on the front passenger side floor.

A horizontal gaze nystagmus test was performed while the driver was still seated in the vehicle. He showed lack of smooth pursuit in both eyes along with distinct, sustained bilateral nystagmus, the report said.

At that point, the suspect was asked to exit the vehicle, at which time he was detained in handcuffs.

The suspect was transported to the Carson City Jail for the administration of standard field sobriety tests (SFSTs), which could not be performed in the adverse road conditions, the report said.

Prior to testing, the suspect waived his Miranda rights and consented to the SFSTs, which were completed unsatisfactorily and showed signs of impairment.

The suspect also consented to a preliminary breath test (PBT), which yielded breath-alcohol content (BAC) of .102 percent.

He was booked into the jail and released to detention staff. Bail: $1,416.

— A 36 year-old Carson City man was arrested Thursday night at 8:37 p.m. in the area of N. Lompa Lane and Dori Way for misdemeanor first-offense DUI drugs, a Carson City Sheriff's deputy reported.

According to the arrest report, a Sheriff's deputy responded to the area on report of a disabled motorist. Upon arrival, the disabled vehicle was located and found to be unoccupied.

While the deputy was on scene, a male subject approached and identified himself as the driver of the disabled vehicle.

He stated that he had hit black ice, causing him to lose control and hit the curb, the report said.

The deputy observed front-end damage to the vehicle. The male subject was also observed to exhibit slurred speech and his mouth featured white-froth around it, the report said.

The subject's eyes were watery and red. When asked by the deputy what he had been smoking, the subject denied having smoked anything at first. But then he said he had smoked marijuana earlier, the report said, about two bowls four hours prior.

The suspect driver consented to SFSTs and a weapons search. He admitted to having a marijuana pipe on him and it was recovered during the search.

He confirmed to the deputy that he had been driving after smoking marijuana, the report said.

The suspect advised the deputy that he had muscular dystrophy (MD), but he felt he was able to perform the SFSTS, the report said.

The suspect exhibited six of 12 signs of impairment, the report said, and he was placed under arrest on suspicion of DUI.

He was transported to the Carson City Jail for booking. Bail: $1,329.

— A 57 year-old Carson City man was arrested Thursday afternoon at 2:42 p.m. in the 2800 block of Menlo Drive for a pair of outstanding bench warrants, a Carson City Sheriff's deputy reported.

Brian Glen Ward was taken into custody after Sheriff's deputies had arrived at his residence for a warrant service.

When deputies knocked on the door, they announced themselves and ordered Ward to surrender to them. He opened the door and gave himself up into custody without incident, the report said.

Ward had a confirmed felony possession of controlled substance warrant as well as a misdemeanor drug paraphernalia warrant, both issued by the Carson City Justice Court, the report said.

He was transported to the Carson City Jail for booking. Bail: $5,000.

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.