Suspect Arrested Following Wednesday’s Wreck on Grand Avenue

A Laramie man is in custody after allegedly smashing through four 2015 pickups on display outside Laramie GM Auto Center Wednesday night.

Joseph Lynn Hemme, 25, is being held in the Albany County Detention Center on a total bond of $2,120.  A Laramie Police officer wrote Hemme four citations for DWUI, unlawful use of toxic substances, reckless driving, and driving with an expired license.

According to Lt. Gwen Smith, the Laramie Police Department was called at 8:36 p.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 6 for a report of an accident in the 3600 block of E. Grand Ave.

According to Smith and information on the citations, Hemme allegedly had a 25-year-old male passenger in his 1995 Dodge Ram pickup and was traveling westbound on Grand.

Smith says the pickup drifted to the left through the eastbound lanes before crossing the curb on the south side of Grand and allegedly hitting the parked vehicles.  The pickup reportedly rolled and landed on its rooftop.

Smith says Hemme and the passenger were taken to Ivinson Memorial Hospital to be checked out.  No update on their conditions was available.

Smith says only Hemme was taken into custody and that no one else was involved in the accident.  According to one of the citations, Hemme allegedly “drove on [a] city street after huffing Dust-Off causing an accident and to a degree which rendered him incapable of driving safely.”

A scheduling conference on the matter has been set for Feb. 25 in Circuit Court.

Driving while under the influence and unlawful use of toxic substances each carry a maximum penalty of six months incarceration and a $750 fine.  Hemme has two prior felony convictions.