Traffic stop leads to drug arrest

A convicted drug felon was arrested Sunday night in Gardnerville after a routine traffic stop.

John William Ciancitto, 46, was driving a silver Mercedes Benz which had a registration violation around 6 p.m., according to the Douglas County Sheriff’s Office.

During a background check, it was learned that Ciancitto’s drivers license had been suspended multiple times and he was removed from the vehicle and detained.

During a pat-down search, deputies found approximately 5 grams of methamphetamine and a glass pipe with residue commonly used to smoke methamphetamine in Ciancitto’s pocket.

A further search of the vehicle resulted in deputies finding a stun gun, which is illegal for him to have because he has three felonies on his record, according to Nevada Department of Corrections records. Deputies also located multiple credit cards and checks issued to different persons, numerous legal documents and mail issued to different persons, and a catalytic converter with cut marks on the inlet and outlet, along with a Sawzall and blades used to cut metal.

Ciancitto was booked into the Douglas County Jail on possession of a controlled substance, possession of credit cards without owners’ consent, possession of a stun gun by a prohibited person, possession of burglary tools, possession of stolen property, possession of paraphernalia, and other traffic-related violations. The passenger was released at the scene.

Ciancitto has convictions out of Carson City for charges of uttering a forged instrument, being under the influence of a controlled substance and sale of a controlled substance from 2005 and 2008 cases.