Three arrested on drug charges after text messages revealed sales

An anonymous tip about a vehicle used in drug transactions and phone text messages about drug sales led to the arrest of three Carson City residents for possession with the intent to sell.
The arrests were made near the area of 700 Hot Springs Road at 1:40 a.m. Oct. 29. According to the Carson City Sheriff's Office arrest report, a deputy was parked outside an apartment building and was speaking with a Capital City patrol officer. A vehicle drove up to the apartment complex that matched the vehicle description provided by the anonymous tipster.

The officer watched a male and female exit the car and go into an apartment. As the patrol officer stood watch, the a sheriff's deputy walked over to the vehicle parked in the public parking lot with a K9 dog, Tommy. The dog sniffed around the exterior of the car, "put his nose against the front seam of the driver's door, inhaled heavily and then sat still, staring intently at the door."

The dog was returned to the patrol car. A few minutes later, the male and female, Jason Bahnsen, 31, and Natalie Smith, 27, both of Carson City, and a third person, Louis Grinker, (age not available), walked back to the vehicle. The officer asked to speak with the three and they agreed. The officer asked if they had any weapons on them and both men said they had knives, according to the arrest report. The officer pat-searched both men and recovered knives. Further search netted a black leather case with a digital scale that was found in the front pocket of Grinker's sweater.

The three were read their Miranda rights and they all agreed to speak with officers. Bahnsen gave the officer consent to search the car. Inside the officer found balloons commonly used to hold heroin, on the floorboard, and a methamphetamine smoking pipe in a pink jacket behind the passenger season. Bahnsen said the balloons were for his kids and the jacket belonged to Smith, which she denied owning, the arrest report stated. Grinker chimed in that he didn't know why he had the scale in his possession.

Another officer on the scene advised that he walked the path where the three had come from and found a baggie in the grass containing meth. The three, at first, denied knowing about the drugs and then Grinker said the meth was his and solely his, the arrest report states. Because the three had walked shoulder to shoulder together along the path and with Grinker's acknowledgement, the three were arrested for possession of meth and paraphernalia.

Once at jail, Bahnsen's phone lit up with a text message asking him to sell the sender two sets of 1/8 of drugs, the arrest report states. The woman's phone was also searched and officers located on her phone several text messages about her selling and buying drugs, the report states. Given that both phone texts referenced the selling of narcotics by the arrestees, and that Grinker had a scale, the three were charged with possession for sale, the arrest report states. The confiscated meth amounted to approximately 3 grams. The drugs, phones and paraphernalia were booked into evidence.

Bahnsen faces a felony charge of possession of drugs for sale, and misdemeanor charges of possession of drug paraphernalia and driving without a valid license. Smith faces a felony charge of possession of drugs for sale and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia. Grinker faces a felony charge of possession of drugs for sale and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia.

In other felony arrests:

— A Carson City man, who allegedly walked into a supermarket and left without paying, faces a felony drug possession charge.
Jose Jauregui, 25 was arrested Nov. 1 in the 3300 block of Highway 50 East.
According to the arrest report, Jauregui walked into the store at around 4 p.m., concealed $18.26 worth of items in his possession and left the store. Store security stopped the man and escorted him back into the store. He was placed into custody and taken to jail. A search of the man founded a $20 bill inside his wallet with a small amount of cocaine wrapped in the bill. He was charged with larceny and possession of a controlled substance.

— A Carson City man was jailed Nov. 1 after being found in violation of his probation, a felony. Ryne Mitchell Snoddy, 20, was stopped at 10:50 p.m. at corner of Fairview and Edmonds after the vehicle he was driving was spotted without a license plate light and working brake light. He was stopped, and dispatched advised officers he was on probation with a curfew of 9 p.m.

— A Gardnerville man was arrested at the Carson City Sheriff's Office on a warrant for felony non-sufficient funds of $650 or more. Joshua Teter, 23, was arrested at 9:30 a.m. and booked without incident.

In misdemeanor arrests:
— A Carson City man was arrested and faces a charge of pedestrian intoxication after his mother reported that he was nearly hit by a car crossing the street. The 28-year-old was found by authorities at 11:26 p.m. at Lone Mountain and Winnie Lane. According to the arrest report, the man's mother asked authorities to place her son under citizen's arrest after she tried to get him inside her vehicle to take him home. The man apparently told his mother when she tried to make contact with him: "You don't worry you will never see me again." Authorities report the man was intoxicated with a .116 BAC and followed through with the citizen's arrest from the mother and took the man to jail.

— A 54-year-old transient was arrested in the 2700 block of Carson Street and faces a misdemeanor charge of criminal contempt. Authorities responded to the lobby of a motel on a report of a dispute. A wants and warrants search on the man found that he had a confirmed warrant out of Carson City Justice Court and was taken to jail.

— An 18-year-old Carson City man was arrested at 1:49 a.m. Nov. 1 and faces a charge of being under age consuming alcohol and having an outstanding warrant. According to the arrest report the man was running through Mills Park with another man after hours. The 18-year-old was detained and a wants and warrant search was conducted that found that he had an outstanding warrant for his arrest after failing to enroll in an intensive outpatient program. The man told deputies that prior to being stopped he had consumed a 24-ounce can of beer.

— A 45-year-old Carson City woman was arrested and faces misdemeanor charges of being in violation of a suspended sentence and contempt of court. The woman turned herself in on the court charges including failure to report for monthly probation updates and failure to comply with community service requirements.

— A 49-year-old Carson City man was arrested and faces a misdemeanor charge of domestic battery after being taken into custody in the 4100 block of Muldoon Street at midnight Oct. 31.
According to the arrest report, officers were dispatched to the Muldoon street home in reference to a domestic situation where the man allegedly struck his daughter after the two argued over a USB plug that allowed her internet access. The daughter stated she grabbed the plug from her father and twisted her fingers. Her father stated that he elbowed his daughter in the head to get away from her. The daughter had a bruise above her left eye, according to the arrest report.

— Those arrested are innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.