Reno woman arrested in attempt to elude deputies

A 25-year-old Reno woman was held on $10,000 bail Friday after she eluded a Douglas County deputy called on a report of a drunk driver.

Brita Class was jailed on several charges in the incident, including her fourth charge of driving under the influence since 2005. Her last arrest for DUI was Jan. 18 in Westminster, Calif., according to court records.

Deputies were called after witnesses said Class and her passenger "staggered" to her vehicle about 5:15 p.m. outside a Gardnerville restaurant.

Class reportedly drove southbound on Highway 395 and was pulled over by a deputy. As he walked to the vehicle, the driver sped away, and the deputy called for backup.

After Class stopped in a cul-de-sac, the deputy drew his weapon and ordered her and her passenger several times to open the car windows and show their hands.

Instead, Class got out of the car and walked toward the deputy who said he could smell alcohol on her breath from 15 feet away. He said she continued to ignore commands to drop on the ground.

The deputy said he rushed her, forced her to the ground and handcuffed her before placing her in his patrol car.

The passenger, a 24-year-old Gardnerville woman, was charged with failure to obey commands.

Deputies said the vehicle was piled high with the driver's possessions.

n Bail was set at $25,500 Monday for a 26-year-old transient who allegedly broke into a room at the Holiday Lodge because he was homeless.

Brian Lee Ball was charged with burglary and defrauding an innkeeper. He is set to appear in East Fork Justice Court today.

Employees of the Minden motel were inventorying rooms on Monday when they observed one door was locked from the inside, indicating occupancy. As they attempted to enter, a man ran out of the room, leaving a blue scarf on the floor.

The bed and bathroom had been used, according to reports.

Ball was picked up a few minutes later walking down Highway 395 near the Gardnerville town offices and identified as the suspect by the two motel workers.

He told deputies he was homeless and couldn't afford the $52 charge.

n The Douglas County Sheriff's Office reported 12 contacts for domestic violence Jan. 30-Feb. 5.

There were nine verbal domestics, two arrests for domestic battery and one unfounded battery/parental discipline report.

Six juveniles witnessed domestic violence and two juveniles were suspects in verbal domestics for eight juvenile contacts.

The Family Support Council assisted 12 applicants in requests for temporary protection orders through East Fork Justice Court.

That included eight requests for temporary restraining orders including six approvals and two denials, and four stalking and harassment orders including one approval and three pending hearings.

Connie Richardson, sheriff's office domestic violence prevention coordinator, said the average range for domestic violence contacts is 14-20 per week for this time frame. The average range for children witnessing domestic violence is 9-11 per week with juvenile suspects at 0-2 per week.