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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Driver Accused Of Heisting Popcorn

From Staff And Wire Reports

When a tractor-trailer rig spilled its cargo of microwave popcorn, passer-by Gregory A. Hammerberg stopped to pick up some of the tasty treat littering a hillside, authorities say.

But Hammerberg may not have been simply helping with Sunday’s cleanup.

He loaded 26 boxes of popcorn - worth about $900 - into his pickup truck and took off, authorities say. Each box contained 72 bags of popcorn.

Deputies arrested the 20-year-old man and impounded his pickup Sunday, said a Shoshone County sheriff’s deputy who would not give his name.

Hammerberg was booked into the county jail for investigation of grand theft and released on his own recognizance Monday, the deputy said.

The truck rig slid off Interstate 90 east of Wallace on Sunday, the Idaho State Police said.

The driver suffered minor injuries and was treated at Silver Valley Medical Center in Silverton, the ISP said.