Chase Baker
Two Carson City men have been arrested as suspects in a string of vehicle and residential burglaries that occurred last week.
Chase Baker, 18, and a 14-year-old male were arrested Friday afternoon after deputies responded to reports of two men looking into the backyards of several houses near 5th and Crain streets. While deputies were investigating, they learned that several residents near Crain Street and Terrace Street reported burglarized vehicles and several residents Terrace reported that the two had attempted to pry open a window. When asked what they were doing, Baker told the residents that they were looking for his dog.
Deputies interviewed the 14-year-old’s mother, who told them that the two had come home around 1:30 p.m. Friday afternoon driving a silver Lexus sedan. The mother said that neither of the boys had driver’s licenses and didn’t know where the vehicle had come from, according to the arrest report.
The two were picked up by officers near 5th Street and Richmond Avenue around 2 p.m. When questioned by deputies, Baker confessed that the two had opened and entered some vehicles, taking spare change from inside if there was any. He also admitted to being in the neighbor’s backyards. Though he did not admit to the theft of the Lexus, deputies found the car keys inside Baker’s pocket and other property belonging to the vehicle owner.
When deputies attempted to transport the two to detention, the 14-year-old became combative with deputies, biting and fighting with several officers before they were able to get him into the patrol vehicle. While deputies were talking with his mother he took a book of matches from his pocket and started a fire in the back of the patrol vehicle.
Sheriff Ken Furlong said the deputies were unable to pat down the suspect prior to detaining him in the vehicle because he was so combative. He said the boy slipped his handcuffs from under him, took the matches from his pocket and set the plastic prisoner separator on fire.
Deputies were able to pull the juvenile out of the vehicle, and fire crews were able to put out the fire. The vehicle sustained minor damage, the plastic was melted and dripped onto the floor, and the cabin had smoke residue. Neither the deputies or the suspect were injured.
Furlong said it took himself and several of the deputies to completely detain the boy, as he started to fight deputies once he was out of the vehicle again.
The 14-year-old was taken to Juvenile Detention and Baker was taken to Carson City Jail to await charges.