New Chicago Police Chief Earl Mayo Arrested in Clark County on Fugitive From Justice Charge

New Chicago Police Chief Earl Mayo was arrested early Friday evening in Clark County, Ohio, with Clark County Jail records showing he was arrested at 6:03 p.m. and booked at 6:57 p.m. on May 22.

WKEF said Mayo is in custody on a fugitive from justice charge, and WDTN reported his charge was listed as a “Fugitive from Justice.”

ABC

ABC reported that charges filed in Lake County, Indiana on Sunday include official misconduct, obstruction of justice, theft, and unlawful possession of an anabolic steroid.

According to Chicago Tribune, Mayo, 45, of Merrillville, faces seven felonies including two theft counts, two official misconduct counts, one attempted obstruction of justice count and two counts of unlawful possession of anabolic steroids, plus a misdemeanor theft count.

The Chicago Tribune said charges filed Sunday accuse Mayo of stealing guns confiscated in town police investigations and selling them to a Hobart pawn shop, while also possessing anabolic steroids.

Chicago Tribune also alleged that a firearms trace from a deputy prosecutor for a Ruger C3 9mm handgun showed the gun had been sold April 29 at Mega Cash Pawn, 1035 37th Ave. in Hobart.

WDTN

The Tribune reported that police said Mayo contacted another New Chicago officer and asked him to buy the gun back from the pawn shop, and that Mayo also asked him to retrieve suppressors or suppressed firearms from a safe in Mayo’s residence.

ABC7 said investigators searched Mayo's home in Merrillville, and WDTN said information about the location of his arrest and the agency which arrested him is not publicly available.

Chicago Tribune reported that New Chicago town manager Sue Pelfrey said she couldn’t comment on Sunday and referred questions to Town Attorney Lloyd Mullins, while the town placed Mayo on administrative leave.

“DAYTON, Ohio (WDTN) – The New Chicago, Indiana, Police Chief Earl Mayo was arrested on Friday evening in Clark County”

WDTN

Chicago Tribune said Lake County Prosecutor’s office spokesperson Myrna Maldonado stated Mayo was still housed in the Clark County Jail in Springfield, Ohio on Sunday, and no time was announced for his return to Lake County.

ABC quoted Mayo’s father, Indiana State Police Major and Lake County sheriff candidate Jerry Williams, saying, “If it is ultimately established that Earl engaged in the conduct alleged by the government, then he must and should accept responsibility for his actions and face the consequences,”.

WKEF said Mayo is held in Clark County Jail on a fugitive from justice charge, and WDTN reported that 2 NEWS reached out to the Clark County Sheriff’s Office, the Clark County Prosecutor’s Office, the Lake County Sheriff’s Department (IN) and the Merrillville Police Department (IN) for more information.