Bradley sheriff's auction includes dozens of vehicles

CLEVELAND, Tenn. - It isn't the kind of lineup that might be seen at the Bradley County Sheriff's Office.

In this case, it's 55 vehicles lined up at the department's garage, ready for public auction Saturday.

"It's about half and half between vehicles that have been seized, mostly drug seizures, and surplus county vehicles," said Capt. Jim Hodgson, who heads the department's training and support services division.

"There are some really good seized vehicles out there," Hodgson said.

Vehicles range from a 1987 Mercedes-Benz to a 2002 Lexus and a 2002 Volkswagen Passat. There's even a couple of motorcycles, sport utility vehicles, a motor home and a pickup truck.

The county's surplus cars range from 1994 to 2003 model years and have very high mileage.

IF YOU GO* What: Surplus vehicle auction* When: 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 25.* Where: Bradley County Sheriff's Office garage, 2150 Blythe Ave.* Terms: 10 percent buyer's premium with minimum $100 buyer's feeSource: Bradley County Sheriff's Office

Some have been cannibalized for parts, but that's OK for some buyers, Hodgson said. Fleet departments and taxi companies sometimes buy several of those for more parts.

"They may buy four and get one vehicle out of it," he said.

The vehicles, and any other items that may show up at the auction, have been declared surplus by the County Commission, clearing the way for the sale, said sheriff's office spokesman Bob Gault.

Money from the sale of seized vehicles goes to the department's drug fund.

The department started the current fiscal year on July 1 with a $600,000 overall reduction from the previous year's budget, including the vehicle maintenance fund.

Because of that, department officials hope the County Commission will allow money from the sale of surplus county vehicles and other property to go back to their vehicle maintenance budget.

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