Pahrump traffic stops, search warrant and chase lead to multiple arrests

A traffic stop on July 8 at Gamebird and Homestead roads in Pahrump set off a Nye County Sheriff’s Office probe that resulted in five arrests and a July 9 search-warrant raid at a home on Elderberry Street, where deputies recovered five confirmed stolen vehicles and multiple drugs, the sheriff’s office said. The office described the matter as ongoing and warned that more charges could follow.

Three people named in connection with the July 8 traffic stop were arrested after deputies searched a red Kia sedan at the scene. Authorities arrested 38-year-old Chad Mikitaroff on suspicion of possession of a controlled substance, conspiracy to violate the Uniform Controlled Substance Act, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of false identifications. Deputies also arrested 36-year-old Anthony Erb on suspicion of conspiracy to violate the Uniform Controlled Substance Act and cited him for failure to stop at a stop or yield sign and for a stop-lamp equipment violation. Officers arrested 23-year-old Lauren Jordan on suspicion of possession of a controlled substance, conspiracy to violate the Uniform Controlled Substance Act and possession of drug paraphernalia.

The following day, deputies executed a search warrant at the Elderberry Street residence tied to the same investigation and arrested two Pahrump residents on out-of-state warrants. Officials booked 43-year-old Nicole White and 47-year-old Martin Mattox on those warrants and seized heroin, methamphetamine, cocaine and prescription medication from the property, in addition to the five stolen vehicles. The sheriff’s office release used in the investigation said, "This is an ongoing investigation," and added, "Additional charges may result at the conclusion of this investigation."

A separate incident in January ended with different arrests after a high-speed pursuit across residential Pahrump. Deputies reported the chase began after a pickup ran a stop sign at Linda Street and Basin Avenue, then sped through neighborhoods and drove off-road to pass vehicles, forcing some motorists off the road. The pursuit ended at Homestead Road and Thousandaire Boulevard on Jan. 12 when officers stopped the blue pickup and arrested driver Jaime Propps, 53, of Pahrump, who deputies said was driving on a suspended license and had a glass pipe in his pocket. Propps faces possession of drug paraphernalia, driving with bogus plates and disobeying a peace officer charges, and deputies said the pickup reached "nearly 100 miles per hour." Passenger Rose Trudell, 53, was arrested on two active warrants.

An earlier traffic stop on Feb. 25 near Maple Road and South Murphy Street involved a red, unregistered moped; dispatch records later identified the rider as the moped operator but the dispatch excerpt provides no arrest or charge information. Collectively, the red Kia traffic stop and Elderberry Street search, the Jan. 12 pursuit and the Feb. 25 moped stop reflect multiple, separate enforcement actions conducted by the Nye County Sheriff’s Office this year as investigators continue to develop evidence and, officials say, pursue further charges.