Police impound cash from suspicious parcel

COLLINSVILLE -- Collinsville police have confiscated nearly $37,000 in cash found in a suspicious package at a Mail Box Store, but Madison County Public Defender John Rekowski is questioning a store employee's right to open the package.

The employee found the cash May 20. He said the sender gave different names and addresses for himself, said he was paying $260 to ship $500 worth of clothing, and would not let the store do the packaging.

Police impounded the money and say they believe it may be drug-connected.

Rekowski, though, questions why anyone would do business with a company that opens their packages.

But company owner Eliot Deters says customers sign an agreement which states suspicious packages can be opened by employees. He says it's a common practice in the shipping industry.