Crime Corner

COPS: Suspect arrested Halloween night for breaking store windows

Police took one man into custody last week after he allegedly caused $2,800 in damage to two stores on Dandelion Street by throwing a container at their windows, causing them to break.

According to a declaration of arrest in the case, a Nye County Sheriff’s deputy was dispatched to NAPA Auto Parts, located at 1050 S. Dandelion Street, around 12:30 a.m. Nov. 1 for a report of an attempted burglary.

A witness at the scene reportedly told the officer he saw the suspect, later identified as Bert Ableman, grab a container and throw it at the store’s window, causing it to break.

When the deputy arrived at the location, he reportedly saw Ableman stumbling around in front of the auto parts store and JT’s Cleaner, yelling “let me in.”

After Ableman was detained, he allegedly told the officer he thought he was at his mother’s house.

According to the arrest report, the officer discovered a window and garage door on the west side of the building belonging to the auto parts dealer as well as a glass door to the laundry had been damaged.

The damage to NAPA was estimated at $2,000, $1,200 for the window and $800 for the garage door. The damage to JT’s Cleaner was reportedly estimated at $800 for the door.

Ableman was subsequently arrested on two counts of malicious destruction of property and transported to the Nye County Detention Center to be booked into custody.

COPS: Knives, marijuana found in possession of man who attempted to elude police

One man was arrested for eluding local police last week after he allegedly failed to pull over for a traffic stop near the intersection of Leslie Street and Justine Court.

On Oct. 31 around 2:52 p.m. an officer attempted to stop the driver of a 1999 Ford van for a registration violation.

The driver, later identified as Christopher Biddy, allegedly refused to initially stop for the officer, but eventually pulled over near the 2200 block of Jaybird Street.

When police subsequently made contact with Biddy and a passenger riding with him in the van, the passenger reportedly told deputies Biddy knew it was a police officer trying to pull him over, but wanted to elude.

The passenger allegedly further told police he told Biddy to pull over three times.

After Biddy was placed under arrest for eluding, a search of his vehicle allegedly revealed several knives, including a switchblade and several others.

Police also reported finding a small amount of marijuana as well.

Biddy was then transported to the Nye County Detention Center to be booked into custody on charges of eluding, possession of dangerous weapon, no insurance, possession of marijuana less than one ounce and driving with suspended registration.

COPS: Man arrested after making threats to police officer

Police arrested one person over the weekend after he allegedly made threats to a deputy that he had “a lot of shotguns,” and that he wanted to hurt someone, after he said he believed it was a friend trying to impersonate a police officer.

According to a declaration of arrest in the case, on Saturday a deputy was asked to respond to a report of threats in the 600 block of East Street.

The reporting party explained to the officer the suspect, James Fredette, had called her that morning and told her she was a “cop snitcher,” and that he was going to “kill her and her mother.”

The woman said the threats started after she felt Fredette’s attitude had changed and she told him she no longer wanted to speak with him. She said Fredette had access to firearms and she was scared he might actually hurt either she or her mother.

She then gave the officer a number to contact Fredette and told her he had recently been staying in a trailer behind the Pahrump Nugget.

When the deputy called Fredette and explained that she was a sheriff’s deputy investigating a complaint about him threatening the victim, the arrest report states Fredette began to yell very loudly and curse, saying something about having “a lot of shotguns,” and that he was going to come over. Additionally, the officer noted she believed she heard him say something about killing someone with a shotgun.

The deputy reportedly asked Fredette if he realized he was speaking to a police officer, at which time he began yelling again about shotguns.

After relocating to the area near Smith’s gas station, the deputy spotted a vehicle with registration that returned to Fredette.

When she made contact with the male, he said he didn’t know what was going on. He then allegedly told her the victim was the one who had threatened him and denied ever making threats toward her.

After the deputy asked if he remembered receiving a call from a deputy that morning, Fredette allegedly said he remembered a deputy and that he had mentioned something about killing the victim to the person on the other end, but said he thought he was speaking to the victim while she was impersonating a police officer.

Fredette was subsequently placed under arrest for threats and transported to the local jail to be booked into custody.

COPS: Man on way to the airport gets DUI

A Nevada Highway Patrol trooper arrested one person last week after he was allegedly found to be under the influence of alcohol with six empty beer cans in his vehicle on State Route 160 near Tecopa Road.

According to the man’s arrest report, last Friday around 5:40 p.m. a Nevada Highway Patrol trooper spotted a white Toyota Camry stopped on the right shoulder of the State Route 160. When the officer made contact with the driver, and sole occupant of the vehicle, he identified the man as Rory Kuykendall.

As the trooper continued speaking with Kuykendall, he noted he could smell a strong odor of alcohol coming from the suspect. When he asked if Kuykendall had consumed any alcohol that evening, the man allegedly replied he had a Miller Light about an hour before.

The trooper had Kuykendall exit the vehicle and submit to a series of field sobriety tests, which the man allegedly failed. He was then placed under arrest for DUI and placed in the back of the officer’s patrol vehicle.

During a search of Kuykendall’s car, the trooper reportedly found six opened and emptied Miller Light beer cans on the floor of the front passenger side of the vehicle.

Kuykendall was then transported to the Nye County Detention Center to be booked into custody for DUI and open container.