Carson City arrests: Jail inmates fight over soap put into drinking cup

Two inmates at Carson City Jail were booked Sunday for felony battery by a prisoner following a fight after an inmate was observed putting soap in a drinking cup, a sheriff’s deputy said.

Christopher Wilson and Lee Lawson, ages not provided, were each found to be involved in fighting and face the charges.

According to the arrest report, inmate Lawson told deputies that inmate Wilson approached him and accused him of messing with someone’s drink. Lawson told jail deputies Wilson demanded they go in the cell and fight. He said Wilson shoved him into a wall, pushed him onto a bed and choked him, where he said he lost conscious, and that Wilson had punched him in the face.

Lawson had injuries to his face and torso. Lawson denied having any fault in the incident, the report states. He was taken to the hospital for evaluation.

A deputy reviewed video footage of the incident that showed Lawson was sitting at the dayroom table and noticed a cup on the table. He looked around, grabbed the cup and quickly put an unknown substance in the cup. He then returned the cup to its original position on the table.

Shortly after, two inmates, joined Lawson at the table. A conversation ensued and both inmates were laughing. Another inmate realized there was something in his cup and went to the sink to wash it out. Inmate Wilson approached Lawson and said something in his ear, and then shoved Lawson. The two both ran upstairs to a cell and began fighting.

Wilson was read his Miranda warning and agreed to speak. He stated Lawson put soap in an inmate’s cup. Wilson said it was discovered that the soap was in the cup and he confronted Lawson about the issue and told the jail deputy he was going to hit the intercom button.

The deputy told Wilson he watched the video footage and it was clear he did not go upstairs to hit the intercom button because he ran upstairs with Lawson toward a cell. Inmate Wilson had red marks on his torso and side. Both men face battery by a prisoner charges. Bail: $20,000 each.

In other arrests:
— A 31-year-old Gardnerville woman was arrested Sunday, 3:51 p.m. in the area of North Valley and East William Street for misdemeanor obstructing an officer.

According to the arrest report, a deputy responded to the area for a report of a possible domestic battery.
The deputy arrived and met with two subjects, a man and woman. The deputy had a body camera activated. The officer asked both for identification.

The woman stated she lost her identification. The deputy asked her for information so he could conduct a wants and warrant check. She stated she did not have to give any information and said the officer was harassing her. In her hand the woman had a small pocket knife with a black plastic handle. The knife was folded and the blade was not exposed. She had dropped the pocket knife to the ground along with a marijuana cigarette. She was arrested for obstructing. Bail: $622.

— A 41-year old Carson City man was arrested Sunday, 12:17 p.m. in the 900 block of South Carson Street for a misdemeanor warrant issued Nov. 14, 2018 out of Carson City Justice Court. Bail: $3,000.

— A 65-year-old Carson City woman was arrested early Monday, 12:15 a.m. for two misdemeanor failure to appear warrants issued August 1 and Sept. 6, 2018 out of Carson City Justice Court. Bail: $1,170.

— A 44-year-old Carson City man was arrested early Monday, 1:02 a.m. in the 1400 block of South Carson Street for misdemeanor suspicion of DUI, reckless driving and following too close.

According to the arrest report, an off-duty dispatcher contacted the sheriff’s office regarding a road rage incident in progress. The dispatcher said a male subject driving a pickup was all over the road, braking abruptly and yelling at him through the window of his vehicle.

A deputy located the suspect’s vehicle traveling northbound on South Carson Street, tailgating the victim's vehicle and made contact with the driver, who had bloodshot and watery eyes and slurred speech. The deputy asked the man how much had he had to drink. The suspect replied he had six beers at a casino.

The man had been trespassed earlier from the casino. The man was asked if he would participate in field sobriety tests. He agreed and showed signs of impairment. He provided a preliminary breath test with a reading of .240 and was arrested. Bail: $1,921.

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.