Ala. man sues to reclaim cash seized from safe

BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — A Shelby County man is suing to retrieve nearly $900,000 that federal agents impounded from his safe after he asked a locksmith to open it.

Jabari Mosley took the safe to Alabama Lock & Key in May, saying he had lost the combination.

A locksmith used a crowbar to open the safe, which government officials say contained $894,000 packaged in seven clear plastic bags.

In a forfeiture lawsuit, the government says the money was turned over to a Drug Enforcement Administration officer after a Birmingham police drug detection dog was brought in and indicated the presence of a controlled substance within the safe.

Mosley says in his lawsuit that no illegal substance was found and that the money was unlawfully seized.