U.S. attorney probes St. Louis police use of seized cars

ST. LOUIS (AP) -- The investigation into how a company that seized cars for St. Louis police allowed officers to use those cars is being reopened.

Last week, the department announced an internal investigation found problems with the system, but no criminal wrongdoing. But now, the U.S. Attorney's office in St. Louis is joining the investigation, and questions are being asked about how much Police Chief Joe Mokwa knew.

For years, the department contracted with a towing firm to take vehicles seized during arrests. If those vehicles weren't claimed, the towing firm, through its sales subsidiary, sold them.

Police revealed that the firm allowed many officers to borrow the vehicles, sometimes for weeks at a time. Also allowed to borrow them was Mokwa's daughter.