"Hemp" products lead to arrest

A substance that allegedly turned out to be marijuana, rather than the “hemp” product the suspect claimed, led to the arrest of an Oregon woman earlier this month on the interstate. Paige Imbrogno faces felony charges of possession and intent to deliver.

On February 2, a Wyoming Highway Patrol trooper patrolling on I-90 near milepost 181 observed a vehicle allegedly traveling at 80 mph in the 75 mph zone. According to the trooper’s affidavit, he executed a traffic stop on the vehicle, which bore an Oregon license plate.

On checking the driver’s license information, the trooper reports he was advised she is currently suspended. Crook County Dispatch further advised that the driver had been cited and convicted for driving while under suspension.

According to his affidavit, the trooper told Imbrogno she was under arrest for driving while under suspension and asked her to exit the vehicle, but she refused several times. The trooper called for backup while Imbrogno allegedly asked what was going to happen to her vehicle.

The trooper reports that he informed Imbrogno the vehicle would be towed to Sundance after its contents had been inventoried. He asked if there was anything in the vehicle that could harm him, to which Imbrogno allegedly stated there was not.

When asked if there was anything illegal in the vehicle, Imbrogno allegedly said she had some “hemp” in the back. She was placed under arrest and the trooper reports he performed an inventory of the vehicle.

A black plastic tote was located in the rear of the van that the trooper reports contained a leafy substance with the “faint odor of marijuana”. Imbrogno allegedly claimed it was “hemp” she grew in Minnesota and carries with her to give to people.

According to the trooper’s affidavit, Imbrogno stated she can legally carry the substance with her because it contains .002 percent THC. A total of 43.28 ounces of the substance was seized as evidence.

Later the same day, a test was performed on the substance in the evidence room of the Crook County Sheriff’s Office. The test allegedly returned a presumptive positive result for marijuana.

Imbrogno has been charged with felony counts of possession of a controlled substance and possession with intent to deliver. She also faces one misdemeanor count of driving while suspended.