JANUARY 6 UPDATE:

The Lyon County Sheriff's Office has identified an unregistered sex offender who died while being taken to jail after being arrested on New Year's Eve.

75-year-old Dayton resident Dean Allan Hendricks was found in the back of a squad car unresponsive during a stop on the way to the Lyon County Jail in Yerington, according to a release from the Lyon County Sheriff's Office.

Hendricks was arrested at 2:16 p.m. on New Year's Eve, and transport began at 2:31 p.m.

At 2:53, the transporting deputy arrived at the Silver Springs Substation and was going to change Hendricks' restraints from handcuffs worn behind the back to waist restraints, which the Sheriff's Office says is a common practice.

When the deputy got out to open the back door, they found Hendricks unresponsive and not breathing.

Hendricks was immediately removed from the car, and medical assistance was given by personnel from multiple agencies, but he was pronounced dead at 3:23 p.m.

Preliminary investigative findings indicate no evidence of foul play in the death, no violation of law, and no violation of Lyon County Sheriff’s Office policy.

An autopsy was conducted by the Washoe County Regional Medical Examiner’s Office, and final results are pending.

Hendricks had previously been convicted of a sexual offense against a minor in Kitsap County, Washington, and had never registered as a convicted sex offender as required by law, according to the release.

Members of the LCSO Sex Offender Task Force contacted Kitsap County authorities and confirmed that Hendricks was convicted in 1982 of Indecent Liberties with a Minor, a crime similar to Sexual Assault of a Child in Nevada.

When deputies arrived at his residence, he confirmed his identity and acknowledged that he had never registered as a sex offender in Nevada, according to the release.

ORIGINAL ARTICLE (DECEMBER 31, 2025):

An unregistered sex offender died while being taken to jail after being arrested in Dayton on Wednesday.

On December 31, the Lyon County Sheriff’s Office Sex Offender Task Force responded to an anonymous tip regarding a convicted sex offender who had failed to register as required by law, according to a release by the LCSO.

After being arrested for failure to register as a sex offender, the person was taken to the Lyon County Jail for booking.

On the way, the transporting deputy stopped at the Silver Springs Substation to adjust the person's restraints and found the person was unresponsive.

Deputies removed the person from the car and began CPR.

Central Lyon Fire personnel arrived on scene and started life-saving efforts, but the person was pronounced dead.

The identity of the person is being withheld pending notification of next of kin.

The Carson City Sheriff’s Office and the Nevada State Police, Investigations Division will conduct the investigation into the death.