BY B.G. GREGG
The Cincinnati Enquirer
When Karen Chapman bought a 1993 Chrysler LeBaron at a Cincinnati Police Division auction in November, she really thought she was getting a deal.
The 33-year-old College Hill woman paid $300 for the car. She was looking to sell her 1992 Toyota Tercel and get rid of the payments, and she didn't mind that she had to put about $600 in repairs into the LeBaron.
But a few weeks later, Ms. Chapman's deal has turned sour and Cincinnati police have taken her car. Because of a mistake at the police division's impound lot, police didn't realize the car had been reported stolen.
"How did this slip through the system and how can they prevent it from happening again?" said Ms. Chapman, who is driving her Toyota again.
Anita Dobur, claims administrator for the Cincinnati City Solicitor's Office, said the car Ms. Chapman purchased had been stolen from a used car lot. The thief placed different license plates on it, and when it went to the impound lot, police apparently registered it as a different car.
Ms. Chapman was sold the car, but given the wrong title. When she noticed the mistake after taking it home, she returned to the impound lot, where the correct title was found and the car was noted as stolen.
The used-car dealership that actually owned the car would not sell it to the Cincinnati Police Division for the price Ms. Chapman paid, plus the cost of repairs. So, the car had to be returned, Ms. Dobur said.
"Because we're working with taxpayer money, there are a lot of limitations we have," she said. "We can only make her whole in this situation."
That includes the repairs. Ms. Dobur said Ms. Chapman has to submit her expenses for reimbursement.
Ms. Chapman said she will, but she is not happy.
