WELLSTON, Mo. (AP) — The police chief of a St. Louis suburb released all the city jail’s inmates because his department didn’t have the money to feed them.

Wellston Police Chief G. Thomas Walker said he released five people being held on misdemeanors on Wednesday.

He says the city isn’t providing money for inmates’ meals and officers who were buying food for the inmates have not been reimbursed.

Walker says he has no control over the police budget, and claimed Mayor Linda Whitfield is interfering with his department’s operations.

Walker says misdemeanor prisoners who don’t post bail quickly might have to be released. Those held on felonies will go to the county jail.