Man with baby in back seat arrested in stolen car

A 2-year-old boy was unharmed Thursday and a Reno man was arrested after police stopped a stolen car on North Carson Street at gunpoint.

Mark Samaniego, 23, was booked into the Carson City Jail on suspicion of felony possession of a stolen vehicle, misdemeanor speeding, driving without a license, child neglect and driving under the influence of drugs.

According to the arrest report, a deputy spotted the speeding 2003 Toyota heading north on Carson Street at about 7 a.m.

When the officer ran the license plate, the vehicle came back as being stolen.

"Other deputies arrived and assisted me in conducting a high-risk traffic stop," the report states. "A 2-year-old child was in the back seat of the stolen vehicle ... that child had four weapons pointed in his direction. The child was placed in a position where he was frightened and in the line of fire."

Samaniego allegedly told police he'd gotten the car from a friend.

The report states that because of his behavior at the scene, deputies questioned his sobriety. Samaniego allegedly admitted to smoking marijuana earlier in the day and using methamphetamine earlier in the week.

The child was left in the custody of his mother who was also a passenger in the car.

Samaniego's bail was set at $19,033.

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