Task force seizes 158 grams of meth

A school district employee and a state worker were among eight people arrested in the last two weeks in connection with the recovery of 158 grams of methamphetamine.

Sgt. Darrin Sloan, commander of the Carson City Sheriff's Special Enforcement Team, said an informant allegedly purchased 16.5 grams of methamphetamine on Saturday from Wilfred Brazeau, 40.

When officers went to arrest Brazeau at 2 a.m. in the 1500 block of North Edmonds Drive, two women were also taken into custody, Sloan said.

Monique Jacque Taylor, 35, a employee of the Carson City School District, was arrested on suspicion of felony possession of 1 gram of methamphetamine and misdemeanor possession of drug paraphernalia. She was released on $3,632 bail.

Taylor, a bus aide for the school district, rides the special-education bus and helps disabled students during their trips. School officials said Taylor is not a bus driver. She is on unpaid administrative leave pending the outcome of her case.

Stacie Reyes, 32, an employee of Division of Health and Human Services, was arrested on suspicion of felony trafficking methamphetamine for allegedly possessing 4.5 grams of meth. She remained in custody Monday on $20,000 bail.

Brazeau, a laborer, was arrested on suspicion of trafficking methamphetamine in relation to the sale to the informant and possession of drug paraphernalia. He remained in custody Monday on $40,732 bail.

"This small population of users proves that methamphetamine is an indiscriminate drug, and it can affect anyone, regardless of social standing, occupation and education," Sloan said in a press release.

At 7:20 p.m. Saturday, officers arrested Jose Pedro Muniz-Escobedo, 19, and Daniel Ortiz-Salas, 23, in the 2100 block of Lone Mountain Drive.

Muniz-Escobedo was arrested on suspicion of felony conspiracy to traffic methamphetamine. He remained in custody Monday on $15,000 bail.

Ortiz-Salas, an electrician, was arrested on suspicion of felony trafficking.

Sloan said he allegedly had in his possession 120 grams of meth. He remained in custody Monday on $250,000 bail.

Last week, SET arrested Rafael Mendez, 22, on suspicion of trafficking methamphetamine, Charles Rodriguez, 30, on suspicion of possession of methamphetamine for sale, and Armando Vargas Huato, 22, on suspicion of accessory to trafficking a controlled substance.

Sloan said, in addition to the methamphetamine estimated at $8,500, SET seized more than $5,600 in cash.

He said informants were used in all of the arrests.

• Contact reporter F.T. Norton at ftnorton@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1213.

Two from Carson arrested in Virginia City

Two people from Carson City were arrested Friday in Virginia City on drug charges, an official said Monday.

Storey County Sheriff's Sgt. Chris Parsons said Mark Jibson, 50, and Terry Smith, 38, were arrested when officers responded to assist a motorist on State Route 341.

Jibson was arrested on suspicion of felony possession of a controlled substance, possession of a dangerous drug without a prescription, misdemeanor possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Smith was arrested on misdemeanor suspicion of driving under the influence of a controlled substance.