In charges filed Sunday, New Chicago Police Chief Earl D. Mayo is accused of stealing guns confiscated in town police investigations and selling them to a Hobart pawn shop as well as possessing anabolic steroids.
Tanika Roshawn Borders, 47, also faces charges for allegedly assisting Mayo.
New Chicago police chief arrested, home searched
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. He also faces a misdemeanor theft count.
Lake County Prosecutor’s office spokesperson Myrna Maldonado said Mayo was still housed in the Clark County Jail in Springfield, Ohio on Sunday. Authorities arrested him Friday in Clark County. No time was announced for his return to Lake County.
Mayo is the son of Indiana State Police Major Jerry Williams, the Democratic nominee for Lake County Sheriff.
The charges stem from an investigation by Lake County police that began in late April and continued into May.
The alleged thefts came to light after police tracked a firearms trace from a deputy prosecutor for a Ruger C3 9mm handgun. Police said it had been seized as evidence by New Chicago police in a pending criminal case.
The trace showed the gun had been sold April 29 at Mega Cash Pawn, 1035 37th Ave. in Hobart. Police learned Mayo sold the firearm and he was also the arresting officer in the case.
Police said Mayo contacted another New Chicago officer and asked him to buy the gun back from the pawn shop. Mayo also asked him to retrieve suppressors or suppressed firearms from a safe in Mayo’s residence.
The officer told police Mayo told him he has things inside his house the “feds” would never find.
Police alleged Borders, also of Merrillville, attempted to purchase a gun previously sold by Mayo at the pawn shop on May 22. She’s also accused of attempting to remove anabolic steroids belonging to Mayo by damaging the vials. Police said Borders answered the door at Mayo’s house on May 22 and attempted to remove the glass vials. She told police Mayo told her to go to his house and collect the testosterone and steroids. Police said two of the vials of steroids were veterinary grade and not for human consumption.
Borders is also accused of trying to buy back a firearm at the Hobart pawn shop with $600 from Mayo.
The manager of the pawn shop showed police a receipt showing Mega Cash Pawn had purchased 12 firearms from Mayo.
Borders faces five felonies including two counts for assisting Mayo, two counts for possession of anabolic steroids, and one count attempted obstruction of justice.
Police said Mayo was convicted on a misdemeanor theft charge in 2000.
New Chicago town manager Sue Pelfrey said she couldn’t comment on Sunday and referred questions to Town Attorney Lloyd Mullins. It couldn’t be determined if the town knew about Mayo’s criminal background before it hired him. He was appointed Police Chief in January 2023, according to New Chicago meeting records.
The town has placed Mayo on administrative leave. Lake County police took over policing duties in the town on Friday and Saturday.
Jerry Williams issued a statement Saturday: “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,” he said.
Mayo has his own website, earldmayo.com and lists himself as the author of a novel, “When Lines Are Crossed: Love, Trust, Betrayal.” It’s about “a bad cop turned good” battling his morals in an investigation of fellow cops.
On a LinkedIn page, he said he has several years of law enforcement and correctional experience.
“I have also served as a regional director of a social service agency. I am a very good mentor, manager, leader, marketer, and team player.”
Carole Carlson is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.