Carson City arrests: Two jailed for suspicion of trafficking meth

Two were arrested Wednesday by the Carson City Sheriff’s Office Special Enforcement Team on multiple drug charges, including possession and trafficking of methamphetamine.

Eric Gomez, 25, and Katrina Renea Smith, 46, were taken into custody after a traffic stop in the 1400 block of South Carson Street.

Both were arrested for suspicion of trafficking, possession of a controlled substance for sales, possession of a controlled substance and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia. Gomez also had a three-count warrant issued Feb 26, 2019 for his arrest out of East Fork Township Court alleging drug trafficking.

According to the arrest report, a SET deputy assisted the drug task force TRINET team with a drug-related surveillance operation.

TRINET identified Gomez was driving a green Subaru hatchback northbound on Carson Street from Fairview. Smith was the passenger in the vehicle. The vehicle registration was suspended. The driver, who attempted to lose tailing detectives, turned quickly into a parking lot in the 1400 block of South Carson Street, the arrest report states.

Task force officers stopped the vehicle and detained both. Smith admitted to a detective that she had a “ball” on her, which is common street terminology for 1/8-ounce of methamphetamine. The baggie was recovered and weighed approximately 4 grams. She was searched and another baggie of methamphetamine was recovered that weighed approximately 2.1 grams.

A CCSO canine, Ivo, conducted a exterior sniff around the vehicle and alerted to a drug odor at the passenger side. Deputies located a black purse on the passenger seat with Smith’s ID inside, as well as a digital scale with meth residue, a meth pipe with residue, several yellow baggies depicting spiders and $615 cash in various denominations, the arrest report states.

The yellow baggies in the purse matched one of the baggies recovered from the woman’s person. Officers investigating determined the items collected represented an intent to sell. The aggregate weight of the meth found was 8.4 grams. There was also 37.8 grams of marijuana in two separate baggies recovered from the vehicle as well, the arrest report states.

On several occasions Gomez attempted to claim ownership of the drugs as a means to get Smith out of trouble, according to the arrest report. He also had a Douglas County warrant alleging three counts of trafficking a controlled substance.

Smith asked the SET deputy what the charges were. The officer explained she was being charged with trafficking and sales of a controlled substance. The woman told the deputy: “I’m not selling any drugs … I just give them to people,” according to the arrest report.

Neither of the two had a valid driver’s license, insurance and the registration of the vehicle was suspended. All evidence was booked. Bail listed for Gomez: $48,637 and $75,000 for the trafficking warrant out of Douglas County. Bail for Smith: $48,637.

In other arrests:
— A 27-year-old Carson City man was arrested Wednesday, 4:55 p.m. in the area of Winnie and Russett Way for misdemeanor suspicion of DUI, basic speeding and careless driving. According to the arrest report, a deputy was dispatched after a court officer had stopped a driver for speeding, going 65 mph in a posted 45 mph zone and making abrupt changes on North Carson Street.

The deputy contacted the driver who had a strong odor of alcohol coming from his person, had red watery eyes and slurred speech. He was asked if he had been consuming alcoholic beverages. The man said he had four beers. He exited the vehicle and had to hold onto it with both hands to exit, lifting himself to steady himself, the report states. He was asked if he had any medical condition or injury. He said he had been injured by an IED in Iraq during military service.

The man participated in field sobriety tests, but said he could not walk the heel to toe due to his past injuries. He did satisfactorily complete some of the tests. He provided a .249 preliminary breath test and was arrested for suspicion of DUI, basic speeding and careless driving. At jail he submitted to a blood draw. Bail: $1,511.

— A Dayton man was arrested Wednesday, 7:15 p.m. for misdemeanor warrants of violation of a suspended sentence issued Feb. 7, 2018 and failure to appear, issued Jan. 25, 2018. Both warrants were issued out of Carson City Justice Court. Bail: $1,545.

— A 58-year-old Carson City man was arrested Wednesday, 11:26 a.m. in the 1400 block of South Carson Street for a misdemeanor failure to appear traffic warrant issued Jan. 28, 2019 out of Carson City Justice Court. Bail: $410.

— 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.