Pyramid Hill lights up
Women of Excellence Awards
16th Annual Music Festival
Home > Blogs > Butler County Crime and Court News > Archives > 2009 > July > 07 > Entry
$52,100 for an old car?
HAMILTON — A week after Butler County Sheriff Richard Jones showed off classic cars for sale to residents that were seized from two men convicted of drug charges, bids are impressive especially on the flashiest of the bunch.
Someone out there has $52,100 to spend on a 1966 Chevrolet Chevelle SS. True it’s more than cool — candy apple red, chromed out and fully restored. But that’s a lot of money for an old car.
I received several calls last week after writing about the red muscle car well as a canary yellow 1969 Chevrolet Camaro; a 1970 Chevette SS, black with white racing stripes; and a 2006 Chevrolet Silverado truck seized from Hamilton-area convicted drug dealer Mark Henson.
Also up for bid on www.govdeals.com (search OAL855) is a 2004 Cadillac Escalade given up by convicted former University of Cincinnati and NBA basketball star Corie Blount in May when he was sentenced to a year in prison.
Several of the men who called wanted to see the vehicles in person and were anxious to know I viewed them up close and personal.
When I didn’t squeal with the same enthusiasm, several potential bidders chuckled and said “you aren’t a car collector.”
One man was a bit offended that I referred to the Camaro as old and without a hood. I guess I don’t fully understand the “muscle car” thing.
While the sheriff’s office chose to sell these cars and use the cash to fund more under cover operations for the newly formed drug task force, other seized vehicles have gone from the hands of criminals to become the ride of law enforcement officers.
Deputy Chief Tony Dwyer drives Lincoln Navigator that was seized from a criminal. Other seized vehicles, including a D.A.R.E. truck and undercover cars, are also a part of the fleet.
Jones jumped in the right red Chevelle last week and revved the engine for TV cameras.
But he said the car was not his speed.
“I need something I am not going to have to work on,” Jones said.
Bet it will get the attention of a deputy or state trooper with a radar gun!
Permalink | Comments (1) | Post your comment |
Comments
By Beth Proctor
July 7, 2009 8:43 PM | Link to this
Hello, first I’d like to mention that some of the articles spellings are incorrect. As for the money the sheriffs departments use of cars and monies seized from drug dealers and criminals.. the D.A.R.E vehicle has been used for the good as many children have learned the bad that comes from drugs and crime because of it and more.In a very large way citizens who do not do drugs or commit crimes are paying those drug dealers to have those expensive luxuries because it is our hard earned taxes that fill their pockets with the cash to buy them. What would you rather have them do? give the cars back to the public which most of us can’t afford to fix them insure them or to drive them they have to go somewhere why not for the use of those officers who absolutely run into the face of danger each and every day to make sure alot of dope doesn’t get on the street and into the bellies of our children. If the Dealers and the Criminals didn’t have those expensive Cars and Homes ETC.. where would the Police get the money to pay for the Task Force that is needed desperately? From the Tax payers so any way you look at it we pay one way or the other let the criminals pay for 100% of their crime one way or the other I am tired of being a victim of their crimes even if indirectely and tired of doubters when it comes to how Richard Jones is doing his job. Could most of us bust down a door not knowing if the Dealer on the other side had a Gun and it would be our last breath? So the next time any of us questions the ethics of the persons responsible for our safety no matter how they do it, let’s try to think of those fancy Car sales as payment for a job well done. Kudos to the Butler County Sheriffs office and all their efforts putting the dollor to work for our safety!