12-943. Petition for disposal or sale of
property
A. Except as provided in subsection B of this section, an officer having custody of
property under section 12-941 shall file a petition in the superior court in the county
where the property or some part thereof is located, setting forth a description of the
property, the name of the person last lawfully seized or possessed thereof, the names, if
any, of the persons claiming the property, the facts and circumstances in consequence of
which such property is unclaimed, and requesting that such property be sold as provided
by section 12-945.
B. Any property which in the opinion of the officer having custody of the property
has a value in its present condition of twenty-five dollars or less or property which has
been rejected by the clerk of the court may be given to an appropriate charity or may be
destroyed by the officer after the period prescribed in section 12-942 has lapsed. Items
that have a useful value to a law enforcement agency may be retained and utilized by that
agency. Tangible personal property turned over to a state, county, city or town officer
as lost and remaining unclaimed after the period prescribed in section 12-942 has lapsed
may be awarded to the finder upon application to the court provided the finder is not a
public officer or employee of the federal, a state or local government who found the
property in the course of performing the duties of the office or employment. The officer
shall deliver any property which is not destroyed or retained to the clerk of the
superior court to be sold at public auction. An officer who destroys property or
delivers property to the clerk pursuant to this subsection is not required to give notice
of the destruction or delivery of the property.
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