nevada department of public safety

DOUGLAS COUNTY, Nev. - A call into "SafeVoice" about 10:00 p.m. Tuesday night outlined a specific threat to faculty and students at Douglas High School in Minden involving the use of a firearm. The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office (DCSO) quickly responded, leading to the arrest of one juvenile for allegedly making threats against the school.

The SafeVoice Coordinator from the Nevada Division of Investigations and the DCSO resource officers worked together to quickly identify the juvenile(s) involved.

RENO, Nev. - A Reno couple in their 80s have been identified as the victims in Wednesday's double homicide.

The Washoe County Regional Medical Examiner’s Office today said 81-year-old Gerald David and his wife, Sharon David, age 80 were killed in their home. Next of kin have been notified.

Both victims died as a result of gunshot wounds, similar to the method used in the two recent Douglas County murders.

The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office is joining the Nevada Highway Patrol and other law enforcement agencies in the state to emphasize the importance of safe and sober driving during the Labor Day Holiday weekend and beginning of September.

The enforcement began on August 25 and ends on Monday, September 10.

The Douglas County Sheriff’s Office will dedicate extra officers to DUI enforcement as part of a statewide JOINING FORCES campaign aimed at reducing tragedies caused by people driving under the influence.

Over the next two weeks, Northern Nevada residents can expect to see double or even triple the normal law enforcement presence. The Nevada Highway Patrol has joined forces with law enforcement agencies statewide to crack down on impaired driving, and has an important message for the public: if you’ll be drinking, designate a sober driver, and if you drive impaired, you will be arrested.

Dr. Devendra I. Patel, aka Devendrakumar I. Patel, 58, of Elko, Nev., was arrested Tuesday on 39 charges of unlawful distribution of prescriptions opioids and Medicaid fraud.

Patel is charged with 36-counts of distribution of controlled substances such as oxycodone and hydrocodone, and three-counts of health care fraud. He is a cardiologist at his medical practice, Northeastern Nevada Cardiology. The statutory maximum penalty for distribution of a controlled substance is 10 years in prison and the maximum penalty for health care fraud is 10 years in prison.

It wasn't record setting, but it was disturbing for safety officials in Nevada to read the reports that more people died on Nevada roads in 2016 than the previous year.

Preliminary data shows that 327 traffic fatalities occurred on the state's roads in 2016, one more death than in 2015. There were five more crashes, more pedestrians deaths by vehicles (5), and more motorcyclist deaths (21).

Alcohol related crashes and deaths decreased in 2016, with 11.46 percent fewer deaths and 15.38 percent fewer crashes relating to drunk driving.

Over the past three Halloweens there have been a total of six traffic deaths and 417 crashes during the past three Halloweens in Nevada, so the Nevada Highway Patrol (NHP) and Nevada Department of Public Safety (NDOT) has joined together to remind both drivers and pedestrians to be safe.

The Tri-NET Narcotic Task Force arrested two Carson City men last week after a two-month long investigation into drug trafficking in the area.

Michael Bowman, 45, was taken into custody on April 14, 2016 by the Carson City Sheriff's Office without incident on Highway 50 East. He was charged with four felonies, Level I Trafficking a Controlled Substance – Meth, Conspiracy to Violate the Uniformed Controlled Substance Act, Sales of a Controlled Substance - Meth and Possession of a Controlled Substance.

A large illicit marijuana grow in the mountains of Lincoln County, NV was eradicated after law enforcement found 6,476 marijuana plants in the remote area. The plants had an estimated street value of $17 million.

It appears that individuals had operated the site for several years and was capable of producing large quantities of illegal marijuana intended for sales and distribution. In addition to the marijuana plants, law enforcement personnel recovered and removed nearly two miles of black irrigation piping, along with various chemicals, used during the growing process

Operation Vigilance, a multi-agency collaborative effort to verify sex offender registration compliance, was conducted in the Carson, Douglas, Storey and Lyon County areas. Over the course of three days and nights, from Thursday, July 30th through Saturday, August 1st, 2015, nearly 30 officers with area law enforcement agencies knocked on doors and made contact with community members to carry out this important operation.

Fifty-three motorcyclists died on Nevada roadways in 2013, surpassing the previous year’s number of fatalities by 39 percent, according to the Nevada Department of Public Safety, Office of Traffic Safety (OTS).

Nevada Gov. Brian Sandoval proclaimed May 2014 as Motorcycle Safety Month, focusing on the motorcycle as an important form of transportation, and reminding its riders and all motorists of important safety guidelines.

Beginning today, Nevada no longer recognizes Arizona's concealed weapons permits, the state's Department of Public Safety announced.
At a Feb. 28 meeting of the Nevada Sheriffs’ and Chiefs’ association, the groups unanimously agreed to end the recognition of concealed weapon permits. According to a news release, the action was taken in accordance with Nevada Revised Statue 202.3689.

CARSON CITY – Two top state law enforcement positions have been filled by the Nevada Department of Public Safety (DPS).
Troy Abney was named as chief of the Nevada Highway Patrol after a national search. Abney has 28 years of law enforcement experience, including serving as the assistant chief of the California Highway Patrol where he led 786 sworn and non-sworn members.

Officials reported this morning that the Washoe Drive Fire destroyed 26 homes, and has currently consumed 3,900 acres.
At a 9 a.m. press conference, officials reported the blaze is 50 percent contained, and that 700 firefighters are working to extinguish hot spots in advance of the high wind that are forecast for this afternoon.
There were 20 homes reported lost last night, but in the light of day, personnel working the fire were able to get a better count of the structures that burned.

By Sgt Jim Halsey, Public Information Officer, DCSO
On Wednesday, December 7th, 2011 at approximately 2:10 pm, deputies of the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office were dispatched to what was reported as a dead body lying outside of a white truck in the Gardnerville Cemetery.
A DCSO deputy arrived on-scene approximately six minutes later and found an adult male, later identified as 77 year-old David Pendleton, in the cemetery near the described truck. Pendleton was holding a shotgun in his hands.