N.C. sheriff's office to keep Corvette seized from drug dealer

RALEIGH, N.C. -- The Wake County Sheriff's Office plans to use a 2007 Corvette seized from a drug dealer to teach kids about the dangers of selling drugs, while teachers say they fear the expensive car will send the wrong message.

The News & Observer of Raleigh reported county officials originally said they would use the Corvette as a department vehicle, then auction it with proceeds going to the Wake school system.

But Sheriff Donnie Harrison now says the department eventually will use the Corvette for public relations. He says the Corvette will show kids that their cars will get confiscated if they get caught selling drugs.

"We get calls wanting cars to come to schools, and it'd be a good thing to say, 'If you sell drugs and get caught, this is what will happen,'" Harrison told the newspaper.

Broughton High School teacher Jennifer Cates says she fears that students will learn that you can buy this kind of car with drug money.

In 2009, CBS affiliate WRAL reported that the sheriff's office used the muscle car to pull over drivers who exceeded the speed limit or tried to run drugs.