Man faces felony fraud charges after credit card machine and cards found inside room

A San Francisco man was arrested and faces felony credit card forgery charges after equipment used to make cards was found inside a Carson City hotel room, authorities said.

Joshua Jeremiah Sims, 41, was arrested in the 900 block of South Carson Street Dec. 15 at 3:45 p.m. According to the Carson City Sheriff's Office arrest report, officers responded to a call about credit card making equipment found inside a room after Sims had failed to check out earlier in the day.

On arrival and prior to entering the room officers spoke with a hotel and casino security officer who stated that a room was rented to Sims on Dec. 14. He was to be checked out or pay for another night at 11 a.m. Dec. 15. At 11 a.m. he had not checked out. The front desk called several times in an attempt to contact Sims and called several times until 12:30 p.m., the report states.

Security was notified to respond to the room at 2:30 p.m. The security officer knocked on the door several times and then made entry into the room. The security guard found several bags around the room and a machine that appeared to be used for making credit cards. The security officers contacted his supervisor to come to the room. Both decided to call the Carson City Sheriff's Office, according to the arrest report.

As officers arrived Sims was trying to re-rent the room for the night. Officers entered the room and saw the machine on the dresser located on the north wall. The machine had a Gold Visa Credit Card with a name on it. Officers also saw on the dresser what appeared to be a scanner for credit cards much like what is used in retail stores.

There were several computers set up on the table in the northwest corner of the room. Officer saw a Gold Visa Credit Card identical to the one with a name of a person and another person. Officers saw several brand new items in the room, all still had the tags on them. Sims appeared to be wearing new clothes and had a new cell phone in his hand at the time he was arrested, the report states.

An officer asked Sims if the room was registered to him. Sims advised it was and he had a couple of friends staying with him. Officers asked what their names were and Sims became "very confused" was "delayed in his answers and gave the name Sam and his girlfriend," the arrest report states.

The officer asked for Sam's last name and Sims could not provide him with the last name nor could he provide the officer with his girlfriend's name, the report states. An officer asked Sims if he could search Sims' wallet and the man stated "yes" and handed the officer a small black wallet, the report states.

A deputy removed several credit cards from the wallet. The credit cards were the only items in the wallet. Sims advised he has never seen any of the equipment that was on the dresser and said the only thing in the room that was his was the red suit case near the door, the arrest report states.

Officers noticed a Visa card that had several light scratches in a square near the number and name area. It appeared the previous name and number had been shaved off of this card and a new name and number printed on the cards. Officers could see the numbers had been traced with a gold marker. On another Visa card, officers could see the numbers were not in a straight line and angling downward toward the Visa log on the card. The cards Sims had in his possession were obviously fraudulent, the report states.

Sims was read his Miranda Rights and he stated that he understood his rights and wished to have a lawyer present prior to any further questioning. Officers did not ask him any further questions. He was placed into handcuffs and taken to jail.

Bail set at $10,000.

In other felony-related arrests:

A Carson City man faces felony drug and parole violation charges after being arrested in the 1500 block of Airport Road at 2:27 p.m. Dec. 16.

Scott Michael Tyzbir, 47, also faces misdemeanor charges of driving under the influence, obstructed windshield, and possession of drug paraphernalia.

According to the arrest report, officers were patrolling southbound on Airport Road near the intersection of Highway 50 East. Officers observed a red Jeep with a broken windshield and pulled over the vehicle. After noticing Tyzbir had a mild odor of alcohol coming from his breath, officers asked if he had been drinking. Tyzbir said "yes, I had one" according to the arrest report. He agreed to perform a field sobriety test.
Officers did a records check and discovered the man was on state Parole and Probation with a "no drinking" clause. During the Horizontal Gaze Nystagmus Test, officers observed lack of smooth pursuit in both eyes, distinct and sustained Nystagmus at maximum deviation in both eyes, the arrest report stated.

During the test, Parole and Probation requested Tyzbir be arrested for the violation of his conditions. During the search incident to arrested officers located a brown glasses case in the man's left front pant pocket. Inside the case was a small clear plastic baggie that contained a white crystalline substance consistent with methamphetamine, and two clear glass pipes that are commonly used to smoke meth, the report states.

Once at the jail he was given the option of finishing the sobriety test. His Miranda rights were read and he agreed to finish the field sobriety tests in which he satisfactorily passed the Walk and Turn and One Leg Stand Tests, the report states.

He was read the Nevada Implied consent admonishment, because drugs were in issue, and a blood test was selected. He was escorted to the jail where two blood samples were taken and was released to jail state with the charges of Parole and Probation hold, possession of methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia, DUI alcohol and drugs, and driving with a broken windshield. He was cooperative throughout the process, the arrest report states.

— A Carson City man was arrested and faces a charge of violating conditions of his probation. Jose Flores Tafolla, 27, was arrested at 1:41 a.m. Dec. 16 at the intersection of Como and Carson Meadows.

According to the arrest report officers were patrolling the area of Robinson and Saliman and noticed a four-door colored Nissan with Nevada plates traveling southbound with only one functioning headlight.

Officers conducted a traffic stop of the vehicle at Como near Carson Meadows. It was learned that he was on probation with Nevada Parole and Probation and they wanted him arrested for a violation. He was booked into jail on the probation violation and given a warning on the headlight.

In other non-felony related arrests:

— A 33-year-old Carson City woman was arrested Dec. 16, 1:15 a.m. in the 1500 block of East Robinson Street and faces a misdemeanor domestic battery charge.
According to the arrest report, officers were called to the residence regarding domestic battery. Officers arrived at the location and found the apartment a mess, with a knocked over Christmas tree and presents thrown all over the living room and broken glass on the floor.

Officers spoke with the male victim of battery who said that he and the woman had been dating and living in the apartment together for about 14 months. The man stated the woman was upset because she thought the man was talking to other females. He stated that the woman came home intoxicated and began to argue with him as he was on the couch, the arrest report states.

The man stated his girlfriend slapped him, scratched his chest and abdomen area. He stated he pushed the woman off of him and and she went over the top of the couch causing her to fall. The woman called her mother and then began to destroy items in the apartment until police arrived.

The man did not appear to be intoxicated and completed a written statement. He had several lacerations to his chest and right side of his abdomen, consistent with his account of the incident, the report states. The injuries were photographed as well as the property damaged inside the apartment.

Officers spoke with the woman inside the home who appeared to be "very intoxicated" smelling of alcohol. The woman admitted to drinking and stated she was mad at her boyfriend for talking to other women. She was asked if she scratched her boyfriend and she replied she had but that "he threw me off the couch and I hit my head." She had no visible injuries and declined medical attention, according to the arrest report. It was determined the woman was the physical aggressor and officers took her to jail. She gave a preliminary breath sample of .143 breath alcohol content at the jail, 15 to 20 minutes after being arrested, the report states.

— A 20-year-old Carson City man faces a gross misdemeanor charge of false imprisonment and a misdemeanor charge of domestic battery. He was arrested in the 1600 block of Airport Road on Dec. 15, 11:40 p.m.
According to the arrest report, officers were dispatched to the home after receiving an anonymous call about a domestic fight between a man and a woman.
Officers arrived at the residence but didn't see any lights on or evidence of a disturbance. Authorities then received a call from the victim's mother who stated her daughter was in a physical altercation with the 20-year-old man.

Officers arrived at the location where the victim was and the woman stated she did not want any police involvement and just wanted the man to leave. The woman was crying, shaking and hugging her mother, the report states.

The woman told officers she had been dating the man for about two years and that they had decided to go to a movie store to return a movie. Once they were both inside her car in the parking lot, the man realized he forgot the movie. He went back to the apartment to retrieve it but was locked out, the report states. He want back to the car and yelled at his girlfriend for the keys. She stated the music in the car was too loud and she could not hear the man. She told authorities a argument happened and the man became angry with her, striking her arm with his fist, slapping her chest and pulling her hair. The woman said she exited the car and went into the apartment and began packing up her stuff to leave. The man told his girlfriend that she wasn't going anywhere, the arrest report states.

She said the man began to apologize but that she still wanted to leave. The man told her she was not allowed to leave, the report states. The woman stated she began to scream, hoping neighbors would hear her. The woman stated that her boyfriend then took his hand and covered her mouth in which the woman said she couldn't breath. She then told authorities she broke away and attempted to lock herself in the bathroom but the man came into the bathroom. She told authorities she was able to get out of the home and then drove to her mother's house.

Officers gave the woman a domestic violence information card. Authorities returned to the Airport Road apartment and the man admitted to battering the woman and not allowing her to leave. The woman had injuries consistent with her statements to authorities, the report states.

The man was determined to be the physical aggressor and taken to jail. Bail: $5,500.

— A 43-year-old Carson City man faces a misdemeanor charge of domestic battery after he was arrested Dec. 16 at 12:17 a.m. in the 3700 block of Woodside Drive.
According to the arrest report, officer were dispatched to the home where a man and his wife were both intoxicated. The man told officers that he and his wife got into a fight because she was drunk and was very loud and that kind of behavior is not acceptable in front of children, the arrest report states.

The woman told authorities her husband began yelling at her and she yelled back at him. She said when she yelled back, her husband slapped his hand on her mouth and held it there in an attempt to what she described was to keep her quiet, the report states. A physical altercation ensured and the man's left cheek had a "very small" scratch.

The man confirmed the woman's version of events as she explained them, the report states. Based on the investigation, the arresting officer determined the man was the primary aggressor and he was arrested for domestic battery 1st and taken to jail.

— A 24-year-old Carson City woman faces misdemeanor charges of violating probation, obstructing an officer, petty larceny after being arrested Dec. 14, 7:51 p.m. in the 3300 block of North Carson Street.

According to the arrest report, officers were dispatched to the 3300 block of Imperial Way on a report of a larceny at a convenience store. While responding to the scene dispatch advised officers the owner of the store found the woman in a nearby apartment.

Officers made contact with the store owner who stated that for the past week the woman has come into the store on four separate occasions and took items valued at $13.44 without paying for them and was seen on video surveillance taking the items.

Officers made contact with the woman who was extremely nervous and denied taking the item, the arrest report states. Officers observed an odor of alcohol coming from her but she denied drinking, the report states. Dispatch advised she was on alternative sentencing for a prior larceny at a Carson City store. The convenience store owner identified the woman as being the woman who stole from the store. The woman was told to place her hands behind her back and the woman began to back away. Officers attempted to grab her but the woman began to run away. She was later apprehended by other deputies and taken to jail.

— A 33-year-old Carson City man was arrested and faces misdemeanor charges of obstructing a police officer and disorderly conduct. The man was arrested in the 100 block of East Telegraph at 3:54 a.m. Dec. 15. According to the arrest report, officers were dispatched to a bar on a battery report where a male and female called police and stated that another male bar patron pushed one of them.

Officers arrived at the bar in an attempt to find out what happened. As an officer began to speak with the parties involved, intoxicated bar patrons began to interrupt the officers, the report states.

One officer was approached by the suspect. The man leaned in front of the officer, looked at his name tag and asked the officer to say his name. The officer pronounced it and the man "complimented" the officer's name. The man then went over to another to a sergeant and did the same thing to him. The sergeant then asked him to move away from the scene and the man began to yell at him and other patrons in the bar, the report states.

An officer asked the man to be quiet and move away and go outside where a cab would take him home. The man then continued to shout profanities. The officer walked him over to the door of the bar to show him the cab, where the man then turned to the sergeant and shouted: "I don't care who the f*** you are! F***ing f****t.
The man was placed into custody and transported to jail.

— A 27-year-old female transient was arrested Dec. 16, 9:59 p.m.in the 1800 block a hypodermic devices and violation of warrant conditions.
According to the arrest report officers were dispatched to Nichols Lane on a burglary in progress report. The reporting party said they had seen a woman enter a residence. Officers conducted a search of the house and conducted a loud hail from the front of the house for the woman to come out, the report states.

The suspect came out, was seen to be intoxicated and struggling to walk, and identified herself to authorities. The woman told authorities she was watching the dogs in the house for her friend who was away. A warrants and wants search was done and it was learned the woman had a Carson City Justice Court warrant for violation of conditions. A backpack of the woman was searched where officers found two hypodermic devices. She was arrested.

A 62-year-old Carson City man was arrested in the 2000 block of North Carson Street Dec. 15 at around 10 p.m. and faces charges of trespassing and disorderly conduct.

The man had been at a fast food restaurant and was asked by employees to not return to the premises. Carson City Sheriff's deputies arrived at the restaurant and saw the "grossly intoxicated" man laying on the sidewalk against the business and holding a pint bottle of vodka. A citizens's arrest form was made by the fast food management and he was arrested and faces disorderly conduct and trespass charges.

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