State investigators have ended their inquiry into a $10,000 loan that state Sen. Clarence M. Mitchell IV received five years ago in an agreement with three Baltimore businessmen who have issues before the General Assembly.

State prosecutor Stephen Montanarelli said that Mitchell and his attorney, Arthur M. Frank, met with state investigators Wednesday. After Mitchell answered questions about the loan, investigators found there was "no provable criminal conduct," Montanarelli said.

Mitchell accepted a $10,000 loan from bus company owner Joe Louis Gladney in 1997, when Mitchell was a state delegate. City bail bondsman John Griffin helped arrange the loan, and another bail bondsman, Robert M. Campbell, co-signed.

Although Mitchell sponsored and voted on legislation affecting the bail bond and bus service industries, he did not disclose the loan agreement until February - a violation of state ethics law.