Crime Corner

COPS: Alcohol-fueled quad runner runs out of luck

A man was jailed June 20 after he was caught driving a four-wheeler along State Route 372, creating a huge cloud of dust that slowed traffic on the busy thoroughfare.

Cortney James Murray failed to make a complete stop when crossing Upland Avenue and so an attempt was made to pull his vehicle over, according to a police report on the matter. When Murray saw the police car, he allegedly tried to evade the deputy, crossing multiple streets before finally pulling over near Comstock and Red Butte streets.

The deputy noted a smell of alcohol coming from Murray, who consented to a series of field sobriety tests, which he subsequently failed. Murray had alcoholic beverages with him at the time of the traffic stop and allegedly admitted to drinking a few hours before.

Murray later refused a blood test, but one was administered anyway after a search warrant was obtained. Meanwhile, the suspect was booked into the Nye County Detention Center on charges of eluding, unregistered vehicle, prohibited use of off-road vehicle, and no proof of insurance.

COPS: Funny parking in park raises suspicions

A small SUV’s attempt to park and hide inside a local park netted one man a trip to jail.

Deputies noticed a small blue SUV pull into Ian Deutch park on June 21 and park next to a building seemingly in order to avoid being seen by passing motorists at about 2 a.m. When deputies approached the vehicle, they allegedly noticed the passenger, Trent Cleveland Wallace, acting nervous. When the deputies asked to search the vehicle, they were given consent and the driver admitted there was marijuana in the car.

After pulling the driver and Wallace from the vehicle, deputies were told there was a grey lock-box in back of the vehicle. When a deputy went to retrieve the item, he noticed a scale and small plastic baggies on the floor nearby. Once the drop-box was opened, police found a grinder, more small baggies inside a pill bottle, and a roll of cash totalling $170.

Wallace allegedly admitted the contents were his and that he had bought a half-ounce of marijuana the previous day and was selling some of it to his friends.

Wallace was arrested and charged with possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of drugs with intent to sell.

COPS: Four arrested on ‘Electric Daisy’ drug charges

Four people were arrested and charged with multiple criminal charges on June 19 after drugs were found in a vehicle in which they were travelling near Beatty.

A Nye County K-9 unit pulled over a tan Lexus bearing California plates that was allegedly going faster than the posted speed limit.

When the deputy asked the occupants if there were any drugs in the car, the driver referred to the owner of the car, who was sitting in the backseat. The owner said there were no drugs in the car.

The deputy got all four passengers to exit the vehicle and then ran his dog around the car. The dog hit upon three areas, indicating illegal contraband. The driver admitted to the deputy there was marijuana in his jacket pocket inside the car.

The driver, Kyle Lee, then retrieved the marijuana for the deputy. The deputy then searched the car, finding another baggie of marijuana in Lee’s jacket and then finding seven tabs off LSD, a glass pipe, white powdery substance and four unknown pills inside a tan backpack claimed by Lee. Lee was placed under arrest.

Also inside the car was a blue backpack, in which seven unknown capsules were discovered inside an “Electric Daisy Carnival” box. A man named Jonathan Tung was subsequently arrested.

A third backpack was searched and 17 capsules, identified by the backpack’s alleged owner, Alexandra Cota, as “MDA” were discovered in another “Electric Daisy Carnival” box. Cota was subsequently arrested.

The car search also yielded a further 12 unidentified capsules inside a yellow case with a suspected marijuana grinder and smoking device inside. A man named Jeremy Chiu was subsequently arrested, according to a report on the matter.

All four individuals were charged with multiple counts of drug possession.