Commission authorizes transfer of seized cash and logs seized vehicle on commission inventory

The Meade County Board approved a series of actions regarding items seized by the sheriff after an investigation at Bear Butte Lake. States Attorney Ken Clubwright said 49 items were identified; 34 of those were firearms that the sheriff must retain per statute and the remaining items were eligible for county disposition under a court order.

Clubwright asked commissioners to authorize three steps: 1) transfer cash and coins to the treasurer for deposit into the general fund (he estimated roughly $3,000 cash and mentioned a receipt for a gold coin purchased near $20,000); 2) place a seized Dodge Ram pickup on the county inventory under the commission for short-term inventory and assignment; and 3) transfer the remaining non-firearm items to Facilities so staff can sort them and decide if anything is needed by departments or should be declared surplus.

Commissioners moved separately on the requests. They voted to inventory the pickup under the commission, to authorize the treasurer to convert cash and coins into depositable funds, and to transfer the listed items (excluding the truck) to Facilities for disposition. Commissioners noted that, under state law, certain proceeds or surplus processes may be subject to state reporting if proceeds exceed specified thresholds.