Transient arrested for allegedly failing to return rental car

A 33-year-old transient was arrested Wednesday on a felony stolen-vehicle count for allegedly failing to return a rental car.

According to the arrest report:

A deputy went to a hotel in the 1300 block of North Carson Street to look for people wanted by law enforcement. The hotel manager identified Jeffrey Lawson and the white Toyota sedan he drove.

Lawson came to the office while the deputy was there and checked out. He told the deputy he was from Arizona and was on his way to Winnemucca to visit friends.

Lawson told the deputy he could search his hotel room for the wanted people. The deputy got a key for the room, which was in disarray. Another deputy asked Lawson if he could search the car, and Lawson said he was going to call his lawyer. The initial deputy then was advised by a dispatcher that the Toyota was listed as a stolen/embezzled vehicle.

Lawson said his rental of the car, from Enterprise Rental in Bakersfield, Calif., still was valid. The dispatcher said Lawson had rented the car Nov. 14 and was supposed to return it Nov. 16.

The car had 22,300 miles when Lawson had rented it; it had 29,000 miles Wednesday. It had damage to an interior light and a door handle. The deputy learned Lawson had been arrested in Bakersfield in June on suspicion of transporting controlled substances. He also had prior arrests for stealing vehicles.

Lawson’s bail was set at $10,000.