Ogle County audit seeks whereabouts of missing towing fees

OREGON, Ill. (AP) - An internal audit is underway in a northern Illinois county into almost $11,000 that's unaccounted for from a sheriff's department towing fund.

The (Dixon) Telegraph reports that (http://bit.ly/15AKmSE ) the Ogle County Sheriff's Department expects the audit to take a couple of months.

The investigation began after a forensic auditor could not account for the money in the county's administrative tow fund. The fund was controlled by ex-Sheriff Michael Harn.

An ordinance allows the sheriff's department to charge $350 when it has vehicles towed.

The forensic audit also found that about $61,000 in fees were not deposited in the county's general fund as required.

Brian VanVickle was sworn in as sheriff on Dec. 1. He says files were gone from computers that the former sheriff and his executive assistant had used.

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Information from: Dixon Telegraph, http://www.saukvalley.com