$100,000 of marijuana seized during traffic stop

Two California residents face felony charges of possession with intent to deliver after THC concentrate with an estimated street value of $100,000 was discovered in their vehicle during a traffic stop.

On November 29, a Wyoming Highway Patrol trooper was parked in the median of I-90 near milepost 183 when he observed a pickup traveling eastbound at a high rate of speed. His traffic radar recorded the speed at 84 mph in a 75 mph zone.

The trooper reports that he conducted a traffic stop and the vehicle exited the interstate, turned onto Hwy 14 and pulled into a private parking lot before coming to a stop.

When the trooper approached the vehicle, he allegedly smelled an overwhelming odor of perfume even through his cloth face mask. The trooper reports that the driver’s hands were visibly shaking as he held his phone to show his electronic driver’s license.

The trooper asked the driver, Nathaniel Freeman of California, to come to his patrol vehicle to complete some paperwork. Once there, the trooper asked him about his travel plans while running his license.

Freeman allegedly claimed that he and the female passenger were going to Rapid City to see family. Meanwhile, the license check indicated that Freeman’s driver’s license had expired.

The trooper returned to the vehicle to speak with the passenger. As he approached, he reports that the perfume odor had dissipated and he could smell a very strong odor of raw marijuana.

The passenger, Paige Poor, allegedly “lost the color in her face” when the trooper asked about marijuana and claimed she had smoked some earlier. The trooper stated that he could smell raw marijuana, at which Poor allegedly “just stared out the passenger window and wouldn’t acknowledge that I was asking about marijuana.”

Poor was asked to exit the vehicle and sit in the transport cage of the patrol vehicle. As she was getting in, the trooper reports noticing an “abnormal object” in the back of her pants.

Poor allegedly eventually provided the trooper with said object, which appeared to be a meth smoking pipe containing meth residue.

The trooper asked Freeman about the marijuana, at which Poor allegedly interrupted and said she had it in her possession; she then allegedly handed over a small bag of a green, leafy substance. The trooper reports feeling that Poor was attempting to dissuade him from searching the vehicle.

Poor was arrested for possession and advised that, if she had any amount of a controlled substance on her and took it into the jail, it would result in a felony charge. Poor allegedly advised that she had a meth pipe in her bra.

Poor was transported to the Crook County Detention Center by a Crook County Deputy. Before leaving the scene, she allegedly advised that the pair were headed to Minnesota to see Freeman’s family.

The trooper spoke with Freeman, who initially stated he was going to Rapid City but then said they were going just for a day, were planning to see Mount Rushmore and had a final destination of Kansas. The trooper suspected Freeman may be involved in trafficking drugs and advised him that he would be searching the vehicle based on the odor of marijuana and the meth pipes already found.

A probable cause search allegedly revealed marijuana shake throughout the vehicle, a measurable bud of marijuana in the cup holder, three large vacuum-sealed packages of what appeared to be concentrated THC.

The total weight of the packages was found to be 6.6 lbs. According to the trooper’s report, THC concentrates are sold in small packages, indicating “potentially thousands of doses” with a street value in excess of $100,000.

Freeman has been charged with felony counts of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver and conspiracy to possess a controlled substance with intent to deliver. He has also been charged with misdemeanor counts of possession and conspiracy to possess.

Poor faces felony charges of possession of a controlled substance with intent to deliver and conspiracy to possess a controlled substance with intent to deliver, as well as two misdemeanor counts of possession of a controlled substance and one of conspiracy to possess a controlled substance.