St Louis Company "Lends" Out Seized Cars

Edward Niedermeyer
by Edward Niedermeyer

In St Louis, MO the company responsible for handling seized cars is being accused of giving "sweetheart deals" for cars that had been taken from their owners. The St Louis Post-Dispatch reports that S&H Parking gave a seized car to the St Louis police chief's daughter in 2002, and sold her other cars at less than half the market price since then. A report from a local law firm alleges that Aimee Mokwa and "a number of unnamed officers" had been given free use of previously-impounded vehicles. Her father, police chief Joe Mokwa, denies any wrongdoing, but his officers responded to several accidents involving his daughter while she was driving a seized car. Not only was her unlicensed, unregistered seized car not returned to private ownership, but Ms. Mokwa was also not charged with any crimes despite having a blood alcohol level several times above the legal limit. In short, S&H Parking made big profits from car seizures, and gave the police chief's daughter a number of sweet deals to keep the gravy train rolling while his officers kept her out of jail. Of course, the police department's legal team says that the deals weren't improper since Ms. Mokwa is not a member of the force, and her father claims to have been oblivious. Absolute power may corrupt absolutely, but petty power is always abused in the most embarrassingly pathetic ways. (Hat Tip: Reason Hit & Run)

Edward Niedermeyer
Edward Niedermeyer

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  • Landcrusher Landcrusher on Jul 23, 2008

    Shouldn't seized property have to be sold at public auction? Around here, that is a basic requirement. Otherwise, law enforcement would have the keys to the kingdom.

  • Capeplates Capeplates on Jul 23, 2008

    My brother in law lives in St Louis and was amazed when I emailed this story. His application is already prepared and he is researchingthe family tree to ascertain connections with any serving policeman in the city. Watch this space!

  • Reg_pfj Reg_pfj on Jul 23, 2008

    The (fantastic) mug shot is available by doing a Google search for "Aimee Mokwa MyFox St. Louis". It's flattering. She was booked four or five days ago for multiple felonies: "...stealing a credit card, possession of a controlled substance and endangering the welfare of a child." Don't forget your state motto, Missourians: "Salus populi suprema lex esto" (the welfare of the people shall be the supreme law). MoganQuitno gathers crime stats from the FBI and other sources. They list St. Louis most dangerous (ahead of four shining jewels) 2 - Detroit, 3 - Flint, 4 - Compton, CA, and 5 - Camden, NJ. Another Missouri city, and my nearest neighbor, KCMO comes in at #16.

  • Hwyhobo Hwyhobo on Jul 23, 2008

    reg_pfj wrote: The (fantastic) mug shot is available by doing a Google search for “Aimee Mokwa MyFox St. Louis”. It’s flattering. Holy *#$&! MoganQuitno gathers crime stats from the FBI and other sources. They list St. Louis most dangerous (ahead of four shining jewels) 2 - Detroit, 3 - Flint, 4 - Compton, CA, and 5 - Camden, NJ. I assume the stats for Saint Louis include East Saint Louis, right? I used to travel to Saint Louis, it never looked that horrible. East Saint Louis, though, wow...

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