Two Carson City residents were arrested Monday and face felony drug possession charges after a 19-year-old friend of theirs overdosed on heroin in the middle of their living room floor.
Matthew Buscay, 19, and Jessie Radabaugh 18, each face a felony charge of possessing heroin and a misdemeanor charge of possessing drug paraphernalia. The 19-year-old man who overdosed was revived by paramedics and taken to the hospital.
According to the arrest report, officers responded to the 1200 block of Fleetwood Drive at 4:17 p.m. after a call to dispatch about an overdose, where the caller stated the man was not conscious or breathing.
Officers made contact the suspects and three others in the home at the time of the overdose. Buscay claimed to have no knowledge of what happened to the 19-year-old, saying he went into the bathroom, came out a few minutes later and was "acting funny" before he collapsed on the floor, the arrest report states. He told officers he had no knowledge of any drug use inside the home.
The man's father arrived at the residence, told his son not to cooperate with deputies investigating, and was asked to leave. The owner of the home was advised of the situation by phone, according to the arrest report and later gave authorities consent to search the residence.
Buscay was read his Miranda rights, where he admitted to having knowledge of what happened, telling officers that he and Radabaugh called their friend for a ride and he came to pick them up.
When they arrived at the home, the 19-year-old went into Buscay's room to use heroin that Buscay and Radabaugh came into possession of earlier, the arrest report states. The 19-year-old exited the room and collapsed on the floor. Buscay told officers that he saw three hypodermic devices and a burnt spoon in the man's pocket. Before calling 911 Buscay told officer he removed the items from the pocket, ran outside, moved aside a large black trash bag from the garbage and placed the needles and spoon at the bottom of the can and then buried it with other trash, the report states.
Deputy Pullen and his K9 partner Rex conducted a search of Buscay and Radabaugh's rooms where they found a plastic bag with unused hypodermic needles and 50 small plastic bags, commonly used for transporting drugs. Also found in a small trash can under the night stand were 10 pieces of wax paper with suspected tar heroin residue and six empty balloons suspected of containing tar heroin.
Buscay was confronted about the items found in his room, denying knowledge of them and swearing he was not a drug user. He was asked by officers to show his arms, which revealed numerous injection marks, the arrest report states. He then admitted he was a heroin user and had recently relapsed but denied using drugs with the 19-year-old overdose victim. He said he was aware that the 19-year-old was shooting up heroin in his room.
Jessie Radabaugh was confronted about drugs found in her room. She denied any knowledge of drug use or possession. She too was asked to raise her shirt sleeve, which did reveal needle injection marks on her arm consistent with drug use, according to the arrest report. She was read her Miranda rights where she admitted she is a heroin user and knew about the items located in her room.
Buscay faces charges of felony drug possession, gross misdemeanor destruction of evidence and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia. Bail: $6,132. Radabaugh faces a felony drug possession charge and misdemeanor possession of paraphernalia. Bail: $3,632.
In other felony arrests:
A 37-year-old Carson City man was arrested at 2:59 a.m. Tuesday, Nov. 26, in the 100 block of Corbett Street. Troy Manies Jr. was served a warrant out of Carson City Justice Court, issued Nov. 22, 2013, for unlawful possession of a controlled substance. Bail: $2,500.
Those arrested and facing charges are innocent unless proven guilty in a court of law.