Storm Lake traffic stop leads to marijuana and THC seizure, two arrests

A routine traffic stop near Frank Starr Park turned into a drug arrest in Storm Lake after police said they found marijuana, THC products and paraphernalia in a vehicle on Highway 110. Jason Hoger, 51, of Sugar Grove, Illinois, and Juan Barrera Lopez, 32, of Lombard, Illinois, were taken into custody and booked into the Buena Vista County Jail.

Police said an officer stopped the vehicle in the 600 block of Highway 110 around 12:15 a.m. and smelled marijuana while speaking with the occupants. A search of the vehicle allegedly turned up about 80 grams of marijuana flower, 110 grams of THC-infused gummies, five THC vaping devices and other drug paraphernalia.

Both men were charged with failure to affix a drug tax stamp, possession of marijuana, possession of a hemp inhalation device and possession of drug paraphernalia. The tax-stamp count is the most serious of the four charges and is treated as a felony-level offense in Iowa drug cases, adding to the legal exposure that follows even a relatively small roadside seizure.

The hemp inhalation-device charge reflects a newer layer of Iowa law. Under Chapter 453E, a device is equipment or a product made in whole or in part of glass or metal that is designed for inhaling through combustion tobacco, hemp, other plant materials or a controlled substance. The state says that law took effect Jan. 1, 2025, after Senate File 345, which means vaping and smoking accessories can now bring a separate charge beyond marijuana possession itself.

For Buena Vista County, the arrest is another example of how drug enforcement can begin with ordinary traffic work rather than a major raid or a search warrant. Highway 110 is a heavily traveled entrance corridor near one of Storm Lake’s most visible parks, and officers have repeatedly used traffic stops there to investigate suspected drug activity moving through town. The case also shows how quickly out-of-state drivers can end up in the county jail on a mix of misdemeanor and felony counts after a single stop.

Storm Lake’s police force remains relatively small, with one chief, one assistant chief, four lieutenants, twelve patrol officers and two detectives. That staffing makes routine patrol and roadside enforcement a significant part of the department’s workload, especially along corridors where officers watch for conduct tied to drug trafficking and interstate travel. In this case, the stop near Frank Starr Park ended with two men held on $7,300 bond and a stack of charges that could carry lasting consequences in Iowa court.