KING CITY, Calif. (AP) — Authorities say police officers in a Central California town took part in a scheme to steal more than 200 cars from poor Hispanic people.

Monterey County District Attorney Dean Flippo said in a statement Tuesday that the vehicles were impounded and towed, but when the owners were unable to pay the fees, their cars were sold or given for free to some officers.

Flippo says four officers — including the recently retired police chief and the acting chief — have been arrested, and two other officers were also arrested Tuesday on unrelated charges. The officers account for more than a third of the 17-member force in King City, an agricultural town 150 miles southeast of San Francisco.

The operator of a towing company who is also the brother of an officer has also been arrested in the case.