Cash Seizure Was Illegal, Man Insists

CLAYTON, Mo. - The Eureka Police Department illegally confiscated $588,000 from him, causing $2 million in damages, Robert Reiner claims in St. Louis County Court claims. Reiner says he contacted Eureka Police Chief Michael Wiegand on March 3, 2003 about getting a police escort from his home to the bank to deposit money from his family trust. The next day, Eureka Det. Ronald Jones and a woman went to his home, then drove Reiner and the money to the police station, where Jones introduced the woman as DEA agent and told him the money was being confiscated.

Reiner claims the defendants did not comply with Missouri's Criminal Forfeiture Act. Since he was unable to make his deposit at the bank, he has lost three homes valued at $2.06 million that were funded by the bank, the suit states. Reiner is represented by John Counts of Sappington, Mo. Eureka is 30 miles southwest of St. Louis.

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