Four Carson City men and one woman were arrested and face multiple charges after law officers were assaulted when they attempted to break up a loud baby shower party Saturday night.
The Nevada Highway Patrol and the Douglas County Sheriff's Office was called in as backup as the party in the 1700 block of North Curry Street grew out of control, with three known gang members pushing, shoving and threatening officers.
Those arrested include a 35-year-old man who faces a gross misdemeanor charge of battery on a police officer and a misdemeanor charge of resisting; a 23-year-old who faces a gross misdemeanor charge of battery on a police officer and misdemeanor obstructing, resisting; a 37-year-old who faces a gross misdemeanor charge of battery on an officer and misdemeanor resisting, obstructing; a 21-year-old man who faces a charge of misdemeanor obstructing and a 27-year-old woman who faces a misdemeanor obstructing charge.
According to the arrest report, Carson City Sheriff's Office deputies responded to a noise complaint shortly before 11 p.m. A large baby shower party was taking place at residence, with anywhere from 60 to 100 people attending including some children, with most of the adults drinking and several appearing intoxicated and some becoming belligerent.
Officers were alerted to the fact that at least one of men attending the party had been in fights with rival gang members throughout the week including a fight at a local bar on Friday night, the arrest report states.
Five officers responded to the residence with two officers approaching the home to ask partygoers to keep the noise level down. Officers observed several people standing in the driveway near vehicles that were parked on the sidewalk instead of the street.
Several partygoers were observed setting their beer bottles to the ground, sidewalk and driveway and then quickly walking away as two of the officers approached the home, the report states.
When officers asked to see the homeowner, they were bombarded with threats, profanity, pushing, shoving and violent challenges, the report states. Officers recognized several of the men as local gang members. One in particular began to yell profanities, telling officers to leave the property, stating "I'm going straight to Furlong" and "You're all fired" the arrest report states.
The yelling and screaming from the gang member fueled many of the intoxicated partygoers who were flailing and screaming at Sgt. Daniel Gonzales as he attempted to calm the shouting gang member down.
Gonzales reports hearing a beer bottle break near him and made contact with a 27-year-old woman. The woman screamed at the sergeant, which incited the intoxicated crowd to become more belligerent, and more taunts directed at him.
Seeing Sgt. Gonzales in a situation that appeared unsafe — inside a gated area of the home surrounded by several documented gang members taunting him — another officer, Deputy Jason Bueno, placed himself between the large group and the sergeant, getting the full brunt of the crowd, who began yelling profanities including "you're f****** dead pig" and "we got you now bitch," the arrest report states.
With the crowd and gang members circling the two officers, they began to push, shove and curse, with one grabbing an officer around the neck, the arrest report states.
With two officers within the gated property, and the crowd growing volatile and nearly becoming a riot, backup help was called from outside agencies including Douglas County and NHP. Between 15 to 20 officers responded to the scene.
As more law enforcement arrived an officer attempted to make an arrest of a 21-year-old male identified as one of several causing a disturbance and needing detained. As an officer went for the arrest, the man resisted. The officer was then grabbed from behind and shoved into a group of partygoers. The officer used his baton to land several strikes against the man resisting arrest. Another officer helped cuff the man resisting, according to the arrest report. The man who was struck with the baton on his left side and upper back was checked and cleared by paramedics and released to jail.
The woman who obstructed officers was also arrested. She later admitted that she heard the officer's commands but didn't abide by them because believed she was far enough away from officers, the arrest report states. She said she wanted to see video of the incident, where several people were observed with with smart phones.
The officer told the woman that he instructed her at least 15 times not to interfere and to back away from him. The officer said he was trying to make contact with the homeowner and she was interfering, yelling, screaming and cursing at him which, in turn, fueled the crowd with anger causing a near-riot scene.
A 21-year-old man who occupied the home was arrested and read his Miranda Rights and he waived them, telling officers that he was yelling and cursing at the officers like everyone else in the crowd; that whatever it was he was accused of doing, he didn't do, and that he thought it was "bulls**t" that a neighbor had called police because he has had louder parties at his home in the past.
A 23-year-old suspect, who also lives with his brother at the residence, later told officers that a rival gang was after him and that he couldn't allow to have his 21-year-old brother arrested in front of them without putting up a fight with officers.
In custody the man rhetorically asked officers that given the situation, what else was he supposed to do. He also said he needed marijuana for some condition he had and that he was drunk and that is why the situation got out of hand. He said he had no problem with officers, but had to make a stand against them because he felt threatened by a rival gang.