Man arrested in Fernley for hitting deputy with rock

FERNLEY - A man was arrested Saturday in Fernley after allegedly throwing a rock that struck a Lyon County deputy in the face.

Lyon County Sheriff's deputies were sent to a mobile home park in the 100 block of Dallas Street on a domestic violence report shortly before 9 a.m. There, they saw Dario Martinez, 54, of Fernley, holding a rock and trying to fight with another man.

According to Chief Deputy Ken Barnes, Deputy K. Harris confronted Martinez, who threw immediately threw the rock, striking Harris in the face.

Martinez was then sprayed with OC (pepper) spray, which had no apparent effect, Barnes said. A second deputy and several residents of the mobile home park assisted in taking the suspect into custody, Barnes said.

Martinez allegedly had already thrown rocks that damaged several vehicles and broke windows out of a mobile home, Barnes said. Owners of the damaged mobile home and vehicles claimed not to know Martinez and the suspect's motives were unknown, Barnes said.

Harris received injuries to her lower jaw and nose and was treated and released at the scene, he said. Martinez was taken to South Lyon Community Hospital with minor injuries, then booked into the Lyon County Jail. He was arrested for investigation of one count each of battery with a deadly weapon, battery on a peace officer and assault on a peace office; two counts of simple battery, and three counts of injury to property. Bail was set at $50,000.

Jail records show Martinez lives at the mobile home park where he was arrested.