La Salle County Sheriff’s Deputy Rickey Galvan served as auctioneer Friday morning, July 16, for the public sale of cars, trucks, sport utility vehicles and vans that had been seized over the past six months by the sheriff’s office and forfeited by their owners. Sheriff Anthony Zertuche hosts auctions at least twice a year after taking possession of vehicles in traffic stops that involve criminal activity such as smuggling narcotics, contraband or undocumented immigrants. Vehicles impounded at the Sheriff’s Yard on North Main Street in downtown Cotulla are on public display an hour before bidding begins. Past sales have also included freight trucks and trailers, heavy equipment and county surplus materials. Revenues from the auctions are used by the sheriff’s office to pay for officers’ equipment upgrades, new technology and communications gear, and this year for a surveillance drone that will be used in tracking smugglers in law enforcement pursuits, finding fugitives that have fled into the brush, and searching for missing persons. Last week’s auction of 31 vehicles generated approximately $70,000 before deductions for towing fees. (CURRENT Photo: Marc Robertson)
