MERRILLVILLE, Indiana — The police chief of New Chicago, Indiana, faces multiple criminal charges after authorities accused him on Sunday of selling a firearm held as evidence to a local pawn shop and subsequently attempting to retrieve it.
New Chicago Police Chief Earl Mayo has been charged with theft, official misconduct, attempted obstruction of justice, and unlawful possession of an anabolic steroid, according to court documents. Following what authorities described as an attempt to evade arrest, Chief Mayo was booked Sunday as an inmate in Clark County, Ohio.
The investigation began Thursday when a Lake County, Indiana, sheriff’s police commander received a firearm trace request for a Taurus G3 handgun connected to an upcoming criminal trial. Investigators discovered the firearm had been sold to Mega Cash Pawn in Hobart, Indiana. A Lake County sheriff’s detective noted this was unusual because the weapon was active evidence in a criminal investigation. Court documents allege that Chief Mayo, who was the arresting officer in the case associated with the handgun, was the individual who sold it to the shop.
According to court records, another New Chicago police officer informed Lake County sheriff’s detectives that Chief Mayo called him and requested that he go to the Hobart pawn shop to buy the gun back. Chief Mayo also allegedly instructed the officer to go to the chief’s residence to retrieve other firearms from a safe, specifically identifying suppressors or suppressed firearms. The officer told investigators that Chief Mayo stated he had items inside his home that federal authorities would never find.
A second individual, Taneka Borders, was also charged in connection with the case. Investigators stated that a Lake County sheriff’s commander encountered Borders at the front door of Chief Mayo’s home in Merrillville, Indiana. According to court documents, Borders attempted to destroy several glass vials and later admitted to investigators that Chief Mayo had instructed her to collect his testosterone and steroids from the residence.
The charging document against Borders accuses her of attempting to assist Chief Mayo in obtaining a firearm. The manager of Mega Cash Pawn reported that a woman wearing a tracksuit matching the one Borders wore during questioning had attempted to buy back the Taurus G3 from its new owner, though the manager did not positively identify her. Furthermore, the pawn shop manager stated he had bought multiple firearms from Chief Mayo previously, and documentation listed Chief Mayo as the seller of 12 firearms to the business.
Chief Mayo’s father, Jerry Williams, who is the Democratic nominee for Lake County sheriff, released a statement Sunday addressing the situation. Williams stated that he and his family are deeply concerned by the troubling allegations regarding his son. He noted that under the criminal justice system, Chief Mayo is presumed innocent until proven otherwise, but added that if it is established his son engaged in the alleged conduct, he must accept responsibility and face the consequences. Williams concluded by stating the family would not comment further due to the ongoing legal proceedings.
Records show that Chief Mayo is also the author of a self-published book titled, “When Lines Are Crossed: Love, Trust, Betrayal,” which focuses on a story about a corrupt police officer who turns good while battling his morals.
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