Washington man charged with possession

A Washington man faces a felony charge of possession of methamphetamine after being pulled over because his vehicle’s validation sticker was covered in tape.

On March 25 at around 4:10 p.m., a Wyoming Highway Patrol trooper observed a vehicle traveling west on I-90 near milepost 152 with an obscured validation sticker. The year tab, he reported, appeared to be torn and flapping in the wind.

The trooper caught up with the vehicle and was still unable to read the year tab sticker as it seemed to be covered with something.

The trooper stopped the vehicle and observed a piece of black tape covering the tab. He made contact with the driver and identified him by his driver’s license as Brian Arnold of Washington State.

As the trooper was completing a license and registration check, a Crook County Sheriff’s Office deputy arrived with his K-9 partner and did an air sniff around the vehicle, which indicated the presence of drugs.

Arnold allegedly admitted to having marijuana in the center console. During a search of the vehicle, the trooper and deputy observed a glass pipe with crystals consistent with methamphetamine under the passenger seat.

Along with two additional troopers, the officers completed a search of the vehicle and located a bag containing 9.2 grams of marijuana, a bottle of meth weighing 13.3 grams and a plastic bag containing 1.2 grams of meth.

Also found were multiple marijuana roaches, a grinder containing marijuana residue and three containers and a glass pipe with marijuana residue.

Arnold has been charged with one felony count of possession of a controlled substance, carrying a maximum penalty of seven years of incarceration, a $15,000 fine or both, as well as misdemeanor counts of possession and operation of a vehicle with an obscured validation sticker.