§ 5-5-304 - Disposition of forfeited property.
5-5-304. Disposition of forfeited property.
(a) Subject to the provisions of subsection (c) of this section, if property forfeited pursuant to 5-5-302 is harmful to the public health or is required by law to be destroyed, the law enforcement agency to which the property is forfeited shall:
(1) Require the sheriff of the county to take custody of the property and remove it to any appropriate location for disposition in accordance with law; or
(2) Forward the property to the Department of Arkansas State Police for disposition.
(b) Subject to the provisions of subsection (c) of this section, if property forfeited pursuant to 5-5-302 is not harmful to the public health and is not required by law to be destroyed, the law enforcement agency to which the property is forfeited shall:
(1) Sell the property in accordance with subsection (d) of this section; or
(2) Retain the property for official use if the property is not subject to a lien that has been preserved by the circuit court.
(c) If the property is a controlled substance, the law enforcement agency to which the property is forfeited shall transfer it to the Drug Enforcement Administration of the United States Department of Justice or the Division of Health of the Department of Health and Human Services for disposition or destruction.
(d) (1) If a law enforcement agency desires to sell property forfeited to it pursuant to 5-5-302, the law enforcement agency shall first cause notice of the sale to be made by publication at least two (2) times a week for two (2) consecutive weeks in a newspaper having general circulation in the county and sending a copy of the notice of the sale by certified mail, return receipt requested, to any person having ownership of or a security interest in the property or in the manner provided in Rule 4 of the Arkansas Rules of Civil Procedure, if:
(A) The property is of a type for which title or registration is required by law;
(B) The owner of the property is known in fact to the law enforcement agency at the time of seizure; or
(C) The property is subject to a security interest perfected in accordance with the Uniform Commercial Code, 4-1-101 et seq.
(2) The notice of the sale shall include the time, place, and conditions of the sale and a description of the property to be sold.
(3) The property shall then be disposed of at public auction to the highest bidder for cash without appraisal.