CHEYENNE, Wyo. – A 62-year old man was arrested by the Wyoming Highway Patrol after they alleged that they discovered 5 pounds of suspected methamphetamine and 29 pounds of suspected marijuana in his vehicle.
According to paperwork filed in Laramie County Circuit Court, Michael Anthony Smith was arrested on the evening of September 29th at a truck stop just outside of Cheyenne.
Smith now faces felony charges of Possession with intent to Methamphetamine, Possession with intent to Deliver Marijuana, Possession of Methamphetamine, and Possession of Marijuana.
Troopers with the WHP say they observed a small black passenger car traveling in excess of the speed limit while traveling on Interstate I-80.
The trooper went on to say that they observed the suspect vehicle perform an unsafe lane change and exit I-25. The Trooper said they were unable to follow the vehicle at the time it left I-25 but was able to locate it later at a nearby truck stop.
According to the affidavit of probable cause filed in the case, the trooper observed the driver of the vehicle to be male. The suspected was later identified as Smith.
“The male was wearing a bright red hat and a distinctly bluish hooded sweatshirt with an Under Armor logo on the chest,” the Trooper reported.
Court papers say that the WHP trooper observed Smith obtain fuel for his vehicle and then park the car in front of the gas station where he left it unattended periodically.
“The male returned to the vehicle several times, changed cellphones, and made multiple calls. I realized that the male had inadvertently hit the trunk release at some point and the trunk was ajar slight,” the trooper stated in the affidavit.
The trooper added that they observed Smith to be looking around nervously while on the phone and scanning the area.
“The male went around the corner multiple times, which I deemed to be odd behavior, leaving his vehicle out front with the trunk partially open,” the trooper added.
An agent with the Division of Criminal Investigation walked past Smith’s vehicle and advised the trooper of an odor that was consistent with suspected marijuana coming from the car, according to court paperwork.
The trooper said they requested a drug detection K9 to respond to the location. When the K9 unit arrived on scene and began to inspect the suspect vehicle, the trooper stated he observed Smith walk rapidly inside of the truck stop.
According to the affidavit, the K9 handler advised the trooper of a positive indication to the presence of controlled substances within Smith’s vehicle.
“I made contact with the male driver hiding well within the store. Smith displayed signs of impairment and smelled heavily of burnt marijuana,” the trooper stated in the affidavit.
Court documents say that Smith told the trooper that he had been smoking marijuana while outside of the truck stop.
Authorities say that a probable cause search of Smith’s vehicle produced a large suitcase in the trunk with multiple vacuum sealed packages of suspected marijuana.
“Also in the trunk was a small soft-sided beverage cooler, inside of the cooler were multiple packages of suspected methamphetamine,” the trooper reported.
Smith was detained without incident and interviewed by DCI agents where it is alleged that he stated he had left the trunk of his car open so another person, whom he had coordinated with, could take delivery of the suspected narcotics.
Law enforcement says that the suspected marijuana weighed approximately 29 pounds with packaging.
The suspected methamphetamine was tested by the Wyoming State Crime Lab, according to the affidavit. Authorities report that the suspected substance did test positive for being methamphetamine.
“The suspected methamphetamine was weighed by DCI agents and they advised me of a weight of approximately 5 pounds,” the trooper stated.
Smith made his initial appearance in Laramie County Circuit Court on Wednesday, September 30th, 2020 to hear the four recommended felony charges read to him.
If convicted on all four counts, Smith could face up to 42 years in prison and/or a fine of up to $60,000.
All of those cited or arrested are presumed innocent until convicted in a court of law. Charges are subject to change following official filings from the Laramie County District Attorney’s Office.
