On May 27, 2009, FBI Special Agent Frederick Kingston (Kingston), accompanied by a passenger, Assistant United States Attorney J. Hamilton Thompson (Thompson), drove the vehicle from the storage facility, lost control, and crashed it. The circumstances as to why Kingston and Thompson were driving the vehicle are not entirely clear.FN1 At least one document in the record indicates that Thompson was moving the vehicle to return it to MIC.
FN1. MIC has filed a separate case against the government under the Freedom of Information Act, MIC v. Department of Justice, 11–10762, which is assigned to the undersigned. Whether this case has any vitality in light of the Court’s decision is not clear.
Motors Ins. Corp. v. U.S. 2011 WL 4506103, 1 (E.D.Mich.) (E.D.Mich.,2011)
Usually, when a vehicle is taken into custody, a tow truck is used, and costs are assessed. You would think that with a $750K vehicle, a tow truck would also be used--with the towing cost perhaps charged to the owner, depending on the circumstances.
Obviously, I don't have all of the facts, but a joyride seems possible from what is written.