Carson City arrests: Traffic stop leads to heroin discovery after search

Two men were arrested Monday night on multiple charges after a traffic stop in the area of Highway 50 East and Empire Ranch Road led to the discovery of heroin and drug paraphernalia, a Carson City sheriff's deputy said.

Isaiah Jacob Nevarez, 22, was arrested for suspicion of possession of a controlled substance, a felony, gross misdemeanor possession of a dangerous drug and concealing evidence, according to the arrest report.

The other man, 26, was arrested for multiple misdemeanors: failure to stop at a stop sign, driving an unregistered vehicle, driving without a valid driver's license, and driving without current proof of insurance. Both men also face misdemeanor charges of possession of drug paraphernalia.

According to the arrest report a deputy observed a vehicle fail to stop at a posted sign at East Nye Lane and Highway 50 East. A deputy caught up to the vehicle and ran the license plate which showed the registration was surrendered per DMV.

The deputy made a traffic stop and called for a second deputy to respond after observing odd behavior from occupants inside the vehicle.

While speaking with the driver, the deputy observed passenger Nevarez concealing an unknown object under his right leg. The deputy ordered the man to show what it was and after multiple orders Nevarez complied, the arrest report states.

The driver advised he didn't have a valid license and had recently received a citation for driving without a license. Deputies instructed both men to sit on the curb as they conducted records checks.

The driver gave consent to search the vehicle. Inside a deputy located a blue hollowed pen or "tooter straw" commonly used to inhale drugs. Located inside the passenger's side small door compartment was a Cyclobenzaprine Hydrochloride pill, which requires a prescription to possess and consume.

Also located was a brown tar substance, which was later determined to be heroin, in between the passenger seat and passenger door. After suspecting the substance was heroin, both men were detained in handcuffs. Nevarez was read his Miranda rights and agreed to speak.

He was questioned about the heroin. He denied any knowledge of it. He stated the item he was trying to conceal under his leg was a pill that he placed in a door compartment. A test of the tar substance was presumptive positive for heroin.

Deputies spoke with the driver and then to Nevarez again, who denied the heroin was his. Although in possession of the heroin, Nevarez stated it did not belong to him nor would he state who the heroin did belong to, and further stated he was not trying to get anyone in trouble, according to the arrest report.

Officers later located a black pouch containing a spoon with burn residue, two hypodermic needles, tin foil, multiple small baggies and cotton balls on the suspect. He was arrested for felony suspicion of possession of a controlled substance and the other charges. Bail for Nevarez: $8,637. Bail for the driver: $2,265.

In other arrests:
— A 27-year-old Carson City man was arrested Monday in the 500 block of North Carson Street for misdemeanor carrying a concealed weapon.

According to the arrest report, a sheriff's office sergeant made a traffic stop for a driver using his cell phone while driving near the intersection of Carson and Robinson streets.

A deputy made contact with the driver and sole occupant and asked him if there was anything illegal in the vehicle. The man stated no. The driver stated the officer could check his vehicle with a K9 for any controlled substances. The man was asked if he had any weapons on his person. The man replied he did have a gun on his right side. The deputy asked the man to show his hands and to not reach for the weapon.

The man was removed from the vehicle where the officer noticed his brown jacket was covering a black handle inside his right waistband area. The deputy removed the gun that was located inside an inside waistband holder designed to conceal a pistol. The man stated he did not have a concealed weapons permit. Dispatch also confirmed he did not have a concealed weapons permit on file. Bail: $2,500.

— A 42-year-old Carson City man was arrested Monday, 6:33 p.m. for two misdemeanor failure to appear warrants issued in August and November 2018 out of Carson City Justice Court. Bail: $2,035.

— A 43-year-old Carson City man was arrested Monday, 5:51 p.m. in the 500 block of East William Street for misdemeanor open container and being an ex-felon failing to register. Bail: $434.

— A 37-year-old Carson City man, Michael Paul Laclaire, was arrested Monday, 1:05 p.m. for a outside agency felony burglary warrant issued Jan. 25, 2019 out of Reno Township Court. Bail: $10,000.

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.